Group exhibition conceived by Bran in 2011 and curated by Jake Chapman highlights the horrors of global violence – featuring some of the most celebrated names in contemporary art including Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley and Harland Miller.
During his time in the army, photographer Bran Baxter-Symondson found himself captivated by the enigmatic essence of the Afghan National Police force and their intriguing cultural quirks. One particular fascination was their hobby of adorning their AK47 rifles with delicate roses and vibrant stickers. Bran captured these moments with unfiltered honesty, offering a rare glimpse into this covert world through his compelling exhibition, “The Best View Of Heaven Is From Hell”.
For “AKA Peace”, Bran conceived the idea in 2011 and then teamed up with Jake Chapman. Together, they enlisted the talents of 23 esteemed artists, including luminaries such as Damien Hirst, Gavin Turk, and Sam Taylor-Wood. Their mission: to reimagine decommissioned AK47 rifles as stunning works of art. These masterpieces, infused with creativity and purpose graced the auction block at Phillips Du Pury on October 4th 2012.
Bran and Jake together raised £417,000 from this exhibition, all proceeds contributed to the noble cause of Peace One Day.
