Robert Smith raises £27,500 for charity with artwork inspired by The Cure’s ‘Songs Of A Lost World’
"I have sadly seen too many friends and family fall victim to heart disease"
by Daniel Peters · NMERobert Smith has raised £27,500 for Heart Research UK with artwork that was inspired by The Cure‘s new album ‘Songs Of A Lost World’.
Earlier this month, the frontman revealed that he made five works for the anonymous heART project – an online auction featuring 576 postcard-sized pieces, with the identity of the artists only revealed after they are sold.
His creations for the 2024 auction are based on tracks from The Cure’s first studio record in 16 years: ‘Drone:Nodrone’, ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’, ‘Warsong’ and ‘A Fragile Thing’.
After the auction ended on November 10, the piece of artwork named after ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ was the highest piece sold, reaching £15,500, shortly followed by ‘Warsong’ at £3,974.
In a press statement, Smith said that making these pieces “allowed me to combine other passions, expressing emotions reflected on the album in a physical way.”
He continues: “What makes it even more satisfying is how this art can help drive change and support vital research which could save millions of lives.”
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“Over the years, I have sadly seen too many friends and family fall victim to heart disease. By bringing together the creativity of so many talented individuals the anonymous heART project is a wonderful opportunity to share this art and support a great cause. The project proves that art can truly make a difference – for artists, for collectors, and for the future of heart health.”
Smith jonied a host of world-famous artists and musicians in contributing to heART, including Julian Opie (who designed the iconic cover of ‘Blur: The Best Of’), the Levellers‘ Jeremy Cunningham and The Twilight Sad.
Additionally, Smith recently auctioned off four signed prints for Heart Research UK and designed two limited edition guitars in aid of a cancer research charity.
The band’s 14th studio record has landed at the Number One spot in both the US and UK – it landed at the Number One spot on the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart and the Billboard Top Album Sales chart, while also clinching their first Number One UK album in 32 years.
Smith and co. played ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ in full during an intimate, three-hour show at London’s Troxy earlier this month. The group also treated the crowd to various greatest hits and celebrated the 45th anniversary of their seminal second record, ‘Seventeen Seconds’. Fans around the world can live-stream the full set on YouTube – where it is still available on-demand.
This week, Liam Gallagher made his opinion on The Cure known: “I don’t hate them I just rather listen to two foxes shagging in the bushes at 5.30 am.”