The Lockdown Collection (TLC) was a 48-hour-idea-to-launch initiative formed by Sirdar Group, MRS WOOLF and Artist Proof Studio to capture the reality of the Covid-19 Pandemic through visual artists.

Through the sale of historic artworks, funds were raised for the Vulnerable Artists Fund (VAF) and were dispersed to keep artists in South Africa sustained and active in their lives and the ongoing creation of their work.

The idea behind the idea:

The first South African COVID-19 lockdown was expected to last a total of 21 days so we sought and curated 21 art pieces, revealed day by day, by different South African artists. Each artist created or granted an art piece that reflected the thoughts, feelings, vision or captured moments of their COVID-19 experience.

Each day these artworks were communicated through a myriad of channels to networks, communities and the public and formed part of the first collection. This historic Collection was then sold during an innovative online auction, at the end of the initial South African lockdown, at their market-related value. The TLC live-online auction was a white glove sale; everything sold and over R2 Million was raised for the newly formed Vulnerable Artist Fund (VAF), with a percentage also donated to the President’s Solidarity Fund, assisting all South Africans in need.

Why Artists?

Art and artists have always been a critical part of society and culture.

They and much of the ecosystem around them, were deeply affected by the calamity that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Many lost their livelihoods and had little means to survive.

Artists are the record keepers, beauty creators, truth revealers, thought provokers, empathetic visionaries, political disruptors, and human inspirers and we believed they needed our absolute support in remaining self-sustaining and creating.

The world needs them. Our country needs them. They make the world better, richer, wiser, fairer. They are humanity’s lens and the visual authors of our time.

Our team, one of friendships, businesses, ordinary citizens and creators, set about ensuring this moment in history was remembered and captured.

A team interested in preserving culture, dignity and building up and sustaining communities in the face of imminent hardship.