Art Hacks War

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In the first few days of the war in Ukraine, contemporary artist Natacha Merritt and her partner Adnan Selimovic set out to raise money to buy and bring much needed minivans to Ukraine to help with civilian evacuations.

In the span of ten days, they successfully procured 13 vans and created Operation Pinkbus. The 13 vans evacuated 15,000 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians, delivering over one hundred tons of aid.

To continue this lifesaving work Natacha Merritt presents two fundraising elements of her artwork: a single-lot auction of L’Objet Petit a and a Print Auction of 17 photographs. All sold in aid of Operation Pinkbus.

In times of war, there are voyeurs, and there are actors. On its road to becoming art, this sculpture saved hundreds of lives. Art is action, preserved ad infinitum. And at its best, it is a raison d’être.
- Natacha Merritt

L’Objet Petit a

When charitable giving had seemed to dry up, Natacha, a hacktivist at heart, decided to go back to get one of the evacuation minivans to immortalise it as a work of art. Her Ukrainian collaborators were thrilled to participate in the creation of this intersectional art.

1. Natacha Merritt

L’Objet Petit a
Sculpture, 470 x 180 x 190 cm.

Estimate:$250,000 - 500,000

Auction Ended

L’Objet Petit a, is a resin coated perfectly preserved 1999 VW minivan from Natacha Merritt's PinkBus fleet of rescue vehicles. The minivan carries with it the marks of what it takes to save lives: mud from the field's of Donetsk, bullet holes, shattered glass and ‘Fuck Putin’ inscribed in Ukrainian in the dust of the rear window.

In capturing these moments in resin, the American artist Natacha Merritt has transformed the minivan into a historical relic and monument to the heroic efforts of all volunteers that have risked their lives in the evacuations.

The buyer of L’Objet Petit a is kindly asked to provide the sculpture to Kyiv to be on display for victory day.

The piece leaves questions open, as I have. The art embraces the effect it has of causing moral insecurity. It’s the opposite of a cuddle blanket, a romantic comedy, or even an opinion piece. It doesn’t encumber itself with pacifying. It is unsympathetic to its audience–if feelings are hurt, if it’s triggering, if it bruises or traumatizes…
- Natacha Merritt

Natacha Merritt

footprint
Work on Paper, 53 x 40 cm.

€800 12

Natacha Merritt

Colors for later
Work on Paper, 28 x 50 cm.

€800 22

Photographs

A curated collection of photographs by Natacha Merritt captures the journey and lives of the evacuation minivans operating 24 hours a day to rescue Ukrainian citizens. All photographs are available to buy now.

Bullet holes, damaged panels, broken windows and leaking engines taken to abstraction through the artist's photographs, relay the perseverance of the heroic vehicles and their teams to complete their mission. Battle scarred and tired, the vehicles continue on saving thousands of souls over hundreds of miles.

My erotic photography brought me early fame, sparking heated debates about what is art, and what is porn–and who gets to decide. But my work has never catered to spectators. I remain dedicated to the act of capturing otherwise ephemeral moments fundamental to human life.
- Natacha Merritt