BRITISH ASIAN artist Sacha Jafri spent eight months creating the world's largest painting in a deserted hotel's ballroom in Dubai. Now, that gigantic painting has been sold for £45m, and the funds will go towards children's charities.
He wanted to sell the painting in 70 parts, but a French cryptocurrency businessman, Andre Abdoune, bought the entire work.
Londoner Jafri, 44, with roots in India and Pakistan, said he was "blown away" after his work became the most expensive paintings ever sold at an auction by a living artist.
Funds from the painting will go to Dubai Cares, Unicef, Unesco and the Global Gift Foundation to help disadvantaged children in India, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa.
Jafri put out an appeal for children to send him their pictures about how they felt during the pandemic. He received responses from 140 countries and that became his inspiration for the painting.
"I was in a deep meditative state. I looked through all the (children's) work - I paint from the subconscious, and then whatever's in there comes out. Nothing's planned. There's no sketches. There were no drawings.
"I was literally pouring paint, and then putting another layer on top and another layer, another layer, another layer, just feeling my way through it until something magical happened," Jafri told the BBC.
The painting, titled "The Journey of Humanity", was sold in Dubai on Monday (22), and in September, the Guinness World Records recognised it as the largest ever art canvas.
The buyer, according to Jafri, wants to "build a museum to house the painting".
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)