Exhibition · Conceived by Bran Symondson · 2012
AKA Peace
Twenty-three artists, twenty-three decommissioned AK-47s, and one idea: turn an instrument of war into a call for peace.
Institute of Contemporary Arts, London · 26–30 September 2012 · Phillips de Pury, 4 October 2012
AKA Peace began with Bran. In 2011 he conceived a project inviting leading contemporary artists to transform decommissioned AK-47s into works of art, with every sale supporting Peace One Day.
The idea came from Afghanistan, where he had photographed Afghan National Police officers decorating their rifles with roses and stickers. Those images, shown in The Best View of Heaven is from Hell, suggested that even the world’s most notorious weapon could be made to carry a different message.
Twenty-three artists
Bran developed the project with Peace One Day, and artist Jake Chapman curated it. The artists included Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, Sarah Lucas, Gavin Turk, Sam Taylor-Wood, Mat Collishaw, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, and Douglas Gordon, alongside Bran himself.
Commodities
Bran’s own contribution, Commodities, was the first sculpture he made. He covered the rifle in US dollar bills and filled its ammunition with materials tied to the causes of conflict and the hope of peace, including oil, gold, diamonds, opium poppy seeds from Afghanistan, coffee, a dove feather and an olive leaf.
The work sold for £25,000 for the charity, establishing the link between his art and fundraising that runs through his career.
Exhibition and auction
The works were shown at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London from 26 to 30 September 2012, around the International Day of Peace, then auctioned by Phillips de Pury on 4 October. The project raised more than £400,000 for Peace One Day. Selected works were later shown on the London Underground with Art Below.
The project
In the press
The Telegraph · September 2012AK47s customised by artists at London’s ICAPicture gallery of the AKA Peace works on show at the ICA.View the gallery →Dawn · 26 September 2012AK-47 at the Peace One DayPhotographs from the ICA, including Bran with Commodities.View the photographs →The Guardian · 27 September 2012AKA Peace in picturesPicture gallery documenting the artists’ transformed rifles.View the gallery →Ceasefire · 26 September 2012Bran Symondson: AKA PeaceBran’s own photo essay reflecting on the project he originated.Read the essay →AnOther · 4 October 2012AKA PeaceInterview tracing the project back to Bran’s Afghan photographs.Read the interview →Phillips · 4 October 2012AKA Peace auction catalogueThe auction catalogue for the evening sale in London.Open the catalogue →Paul Fraser Collectibles · 5 October 2012Auction reportReports the results of the sale, led by Damien Hirst’s spin-painted AK-47.Read the report →Glass Magazine · 2012AK47 as artInterview with Bran on why he chose the AK-47 as the artists’ canvas.Read the interview →AKA Peace · ICA, London · 2012