Mane attraction Lion sculptures painted by stars to be auctioned off for charity
LION sculptures created by stars including Ronnie Wood and John Cleese are to be auctioned for charity.
The colourfully-decorated sculptures are being sold in aid of UK conservation charity Tusk, which has the Duke of Cambridge as its patron.
The life-sized lion sculptures were previously displayed around the world as part of a global art installation called the Tusk Lion Trial.
Ron Wood’s lion was on display in Bristol and others were displayed in Nairobi, Wellington, Sydney, New York, London and Edinburgh.
In addition to Weston-super-Mare actors Cleese and Rolling Stones guitarist Wood, comedian Noel Fielding, Gavin And Stacey star Matthew Horne and Dire Straits bassist John Illsley also created sculptures for the exhibition.
Others were designed by artists including Hannah Shergold, Ray Richardson and Adrian Wiszniewski.
A total of 32 lions will go under the hammer.
Tusk previously raised £750,000 with its Rhino Trail in 2018.
The charity says its mission is to “amplify the impact of progressive conservation initiatives across Africa”.
The exhibition will take place at 9pm on November 10 on the online platform Artsy.
The Bristol Lion – called You’re Bad – is outside Bristol City’s Ashton Gate stadium.
Each sculpture aims to highlight a different element of the lion, and to raise awareness for conservation efforts for the animal across the world.
Wood said: “As one of Tusk’s longest standing supporters I couldn’t be more humbled and excited to be part of the Tusk Lion Trail 2021. Raising awareness and educating people about the impact of humans on our beautiful natural world and more specifically about threats posed to Africa’s endangered lion population is very close to my heart.”
Cleese’s lion – called Pilgrim – was done with his wife, Jen Wade. It features a rainbow signifying hope, dreams and magic; a lotus flower representing rebirth and new beginnings and a fish – the symbol of Cleese’s wife.
It was located in Trafalgar Square.