Human Rights Watch

For Human Rights Watch’s London Voices for Justice dinner, Bran Symondson created Fragile Souls: a double AK-47 wall-mounted artwork that transformed two instruments of conflict into a statement about humanity, vulnerability and hope.

His involvement extended beyond the studio. Before creating the work, Bran travelled to Mosul with Human Rights Watch researcher Belkis Wille to witness the organisation’s work on the ground. As a former soldier, he wanted to understand the realities behind the cause he was supporting.

That experience gave his contribution a direct connection to the people and circumstances at the heart of Human Rights Watch’s investigations.

The artwork: Fragile Souls

Bran arranged two decommissioned AK-47 rifles into the form of an “H”, bringing the weapons together in a composition referencing Human Rights Watch.

Blue butterflies and delicate white origami butterflies covered the rifles, creating a striking contrast between the weapons’ destructive purpose and the fragility of the forms surrounding them.

The paper butterflies carried the organisation’s ethos, printed in small lettering. Its principles became part of the artwork itself: words defending human dignity folded into symbols of transformation.

Bran’s ten-year-old cousin, Grace, helped create the origami butterflies after learning from him about children living in conflict zones. Her contribution added a particularly moving dimension: a child growing up in safety making something to support children whose lives had been shaped by war.

Supporting children affected by conflict

Held at the Tower of London, the 2017 Voices for Justice dinner highlighted Human Rights Watch’s work to protect children’s access to education, including their ability to attend school safely during conflict.

Fragile Souls sold for £37,500, contributing to the evening’s record London fundraising total of £952,830.

Bran also joined auction host Paddy Walker on stage to offer an additional, spontaneous contribution: hand-drawn and signed dollar bills from his Dark Side of the Dollar series, featuring characters from Star Wars.

From witnessing conflict to supporting change

Through Fragile Souls, Bran brought together his experience as a soldier, his commitment to witnessing events first-hand and his artistic exploration of transformation.

The work gave physical form to his intention that these weapons should become symbols of hope and peace, while raising funds for an organisation working to defend people facing injustice around the world.