Paul McCartney has chosen a lyric from Band on the Run as the starting point for Sound & Vision, this year's art fundraiser for War Child. The charity's 7 October announcement says 61 artists were invited to respond to it for the project's third edition.
For fans, there are two ways to take part: see the collection in London or follow the online auction. The London exhibition lasts three days, 6–8 November. Online bidding runs from 27 October to 12 November. You can follow the auction for longer, but those three days are the window for seeing the work at the gallery.
When to visit, when to bid
- 27 October: online bidding opens.
- 6–8 November: the exhibition runs at Iconic Images Gallery in London.
- 12 November: the auction closes.
Count back from the gallery's opening and you get ten days of bidding beforehand. After the gallery run, there are four more days before the auction closes. If seeing a piece in person matters to your decision, the middle weekend is the part to plan around.
Go to the organiser's auction page for the lots and conditions. Read the description of the object itself, including who made it and what is included. McCartney's involvement in choosing the lyric doesn't mean every work is made or signed by him. That may sound obvious, but a music fan's interest in the songwriter and a buyer's interest in an artwork are two different things. Check delivery and other charges there too.
What does a familiar song look like?
Band on the Run dates from 1973. The song is now the prompt for a group of visual artists, rather than only something to play. There is room for a listener to disagree with their responses, or find a connection that hadn't occurred to them.
Try taking the label out of the first look. What do you notice in the work before you read the explanation? It might be colour, a figure or the space around it. Then read the artist's explanation. Does that detail matter to the artist's connection with the lyric, or did you see something else?
We'd allow that first impression to stand, even if the artist's account differs. The interest is in comparing the two, not finding a single correct visual answer to a song. This is a suggested viewing exercise; we haven't inspected the collection. For another way to revisit familiar music, see our albums and intentional listening guide.
War Child says Sound & Vision raises funds for its work with children affected by conflict. You don't have to approach the event as a prospective buyer to find the music-and-art idea interesting. Whether you're planning a gallery visit or considering a bid, use the organiser's current information for the practical arrangements.