Over 30 UK artists and designers have submitted artworks doodled on napkins for a forthcoming exhibition in London.

Called Napkin, the show will raise money for Concern Worldwide’s FoodAid campaign.

Designers and artists were send a standard napkin for them to decorate in any way they saw fit.

Napkins shown here are, from the top, by: Daniel Eatock; Ben Young; Hiroko Shiratori; Jake and Dinos Chapman; Quinten Quentin Blake (below).

The show, at Gallery Soho on Charing Cross Road, opens to the public on 28 June.

Press release follows:

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Napkin is an exhibition that nods to the spontaneous, celebrating the immediacy of scribbling down ideas on any available surface when inspiration strikes and honouring the importance of drawing and exploring with ink on paper as a vital part of creative practice.

A group of more than 30 selected artists, designers, illustrators and typographers working in the UK were sent generic white paper napkins to doodle, draw or explore on, and Napkin is an exhibition that will showcase these new artworks that were created especially for this show. Napkin is a selling exhibition and is a venture that will enable the public to own these innovative and collectable new pieces from established, admired and emerging names at accessible prices.

Most importantly, profits from this unique exhibition will be donated to charities aiming to alleviate food crises in developing countries: Concern Worldwide’s FoodAid campaign (www.concern.net) & The Peninsula School Feeding Association (www.psfa.co.za).

Many artists and designers have previously explored the unstructured nature of doodling on napkins, and we are certain that everybody has a napkin story of their own – the time they came up with a logo at the dinner table, or communicated ideas and sketched plans during a meal. Alan Fletcher, and his private collection of napkins from friends all over the world, has been a significant inspiration for this exhibition concept, and Napkin is intrigued to discover what today’s influential artists and designers will produce, and how these new pieces of work may represent our contemporary visual culture.

Steve Heilbron from the exhibition sponsors Investec Private Bank said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this event and greatly admire Napkin’s entrepreneurial approach to fundraising. Investec is a keen supporter of activity where individuals are empowered and motivated to make a positive impact on important issues. We would like to thank all the artists and designers who contributed to this unique exhibition."

The list of artists taking part is still growing, but here is a sneak preview so far: Jake & Dinos Chapman, Quentin Blake, Anthony Burrill, Asuka Sawa, Ben Young, Daniel Eatock, Donna Wilson, Ed Carpenter & Andre Klauser, Eley Kishimoto, FAT, Gitta Gschwendtner, Jonathan Barnbrook, Karen Ryan, Mark Pawson, Martino Gamper, Michael Sodeau, People Will Always Need Plates, Richard Shed, Rob Ryan, Roger Kennedy, Ryan Frank, Sam Buxton, Sam Johnson and Shin Azumi.

Napkin Project website

Venue:
The Gallery Soho, 125 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0EW
Private View: 27 June 2007, 18.30 - 21.00
Dates: Open to the public from 28 June – 13 July 2007
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10.00 – 18.30