Tomorrow’s Tigers

September 18, 2018

Last week at Sotheby’s, patron Lily Cole introduced Tomorrow’s Tigers – the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature’s new fundraising project in support of the TX2 goal—a global commitment to double tiger numbers in the wild by 2022. Devised and curated by Artwise and drawing inspiration from Tibetan tiger rugs, eleven internationally renowned artists—including Gary Hume, Anish Kapoor Studio and Kiki Smith—have been commissioned to create limited edition art rugs, which are being woven in northern India in collaboration with Christopher Farr. They will be exhibited and on sale in conjunction with a selection of rare antique tiger rugs from David Sorgato, Nelly Frize and others at Sotheby’s, London, 11-17 January 2019.

Antique Tibetan Tiger Rug. Nelly Frize Collection

Traditionally tiger rugs were made as gifts for monks and used in monasteries during meditation. The 19th-century Tibetan tiger rugs that will be on show for Tomorrow’s Tigers in January range from the abstract to the descriptive – all paying homage to the beauty of the endangered tiger.

Inspired by the antique tiger rugs, the artists involved in this project each brought an individual approach to what a tiger rug could be. Incorporating bespoke weaving techniques and using hand-dyed natural wools, these new rugs are set to push the boundaries of tiger rugs. Each will be made in a limited edition of 10 and will retail at prices starting at £10,000. Profits will go directly to support tiger conservation in the 13 tiger range countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.