Joan Miró paintings and lithographs auctioned by his grandson for Red Cross

The grandson of acclaimed Spanish surrealist artist, Joan Miró, auctioned 24 paintings and lithographs at Christie’s auction house in London for the benefit of the Red Cross of Catalonia in response to the ongoing global refugee crisis. Joan Punyet Miró’s initiative, taken from his own personal collection, raised £47,563 for the humanitarian organisation.

With the refugee crisis worsening by the day since the Syrian conflict began proper in 2011, the raised funds will be put to good use aiding migrants find safe accommodation in Europe, integrate in day-to-day life in the host country and will also be invested in providing educational programmes for children in the diaspora.

Likely aware in particular of the parallels between the problems and suffering being faced today in the Levant and Middle East, with those faced by his grandfather during his lifetime — an exile of the Spanish Civil War and then again once his safe-haven of Paris was invaded by the Nazis in the Second World War — Joan Punyet Miró spoke of his grandfather and decision to honour his humanitarian legacy: “ he knew it was his obligation to be engaged…a trait that went hand in hand with his understanding of how fragile and ephemeral human life can be.”

In a press interview for Christie’s Joan Punyet Miró explained the particular choice of the Red Cross to be a deeply person one, not only in properly honouring his grandfather’s conscientious and concerned legacy. The Red Cross saved Miró’s daughter’s leg, Punyet Miró’s mother, after it was broken in five places as a result of a car crash. He famously made and donated a tapestry (Tapís de Tarragona, 1970) for the Red Cross in gratitude, with the purpose of making something “emblematic of the enormous difference humanitarian associations can make in moments of tremendous suffering, like that we witness today with the war in Syria.”

Among the works on sale, Miró’s lithography Paysanne aux Oiseaux (1981) was the highest seller on the day, realising a prize of £4,375, well above the estimate. Keen interest in the works and the humanitarian effort lead to the successful sale of all lots. Pleased with the strong results, the specialist in charge of prints at Christie’s extended gratitude to the Galeria Mayoral d’Art in Barcelona “for their precious help, and all those who bid for this charitable cause.”