Prime minister’s artwork subject to ‘heated’ bidding

An artwork created by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was subject to ‘‘heated bidding’’ when it went under the hammer at a charity auction in Timaru on Friday.

The untitled piece, which features a ‘‘to do’’ list created by Ardern with just one entry – ‘‘everything’’ – sold for $600 at the Aigantighe Art Gallery.

Timaru North Rotary Club committee member Harley Smithson said the prime minister’s artwork was the last one to be auctioned and attracted the interest of at least three ‘‘heated’’ bidders.

‘‘It didn’t do too badly. It sold for $600. ‘‘There were three bidders who were pretty interested in the piece and one of them secured it for $600.

‘‘Bidding started at $100.’’

The piece, which is reminiscent of a McCahon or Hotere, is also very similar to two others by Ardern that have been auctioned in the past.

This one was provided by her soon after the club approached her for help, Smithson said.

The two other ‘‘to do’’ list paintings already in circulation features one almost identical to the Timaru version sold on Trade Me to raise money for the Parent to Parent charity in May 2018 and the other, a similar version, was donated to the annual Cancer Society ball in Christchurch in June 2018.

When Smithson was alerted to the doppel-gangers before Friday’s auction by Stuff, he thought the existence of the other paintings which he described as ‘‘different and similar’’ did not devalue the one he held. Though he did not have a price on it.

‘‘We are grateful for her support. She must get asked all the time.’’

Office of the Prime Minister deputy chief press secretary Ellen Read said the reason for the unoriginal paintings was so Ardern could respond to the many requests she received for ‘‘auction contributions’’.

Of the 61 pieces of art up for auction on Friday evening, only 36 were sold but the $10,000 raised still counted as a success, Smithson said.

‘‘We had a very successful evening and I think once the final count is made we will be around $10,000 for the evening.

‘‘We had a very good turnout. A good crowd of 60-70 people attended and we had a very good auctioneer.’’

The inaugural biennial auction was held in 2017, with 35 paintings raising $6000. Local artists could apply for $2000 and $2500 scholarships, and a number of smaller funding parcels of $200.

‘‘The money goes into our art scholarship fund which was started in 2017.

‘‘The first auction with the raffle we raised probably about $6000 so this time we’ve raised approximately round about $10,000 so it was a tremendous evening.

‘‘It was a great night and a great place to hold it at the Aigantighe Art Gallery and we hope we can run it again in two years time.’’

Smithson said the club was grateful for the community support which he described as ‘‘great’’.

He said the art pieces represented a lot of talent and some of the works were ‘‘extraordinary’’.

‘‘They [artists] have been very generous.’’