SiGMA East Europe Auction sparks bidding war, raises €83,500 for SiGMA Foundation
The SiGMA East Europe Awards ceremony hosted a charitable auction to support projects funded by the SiGMA Foundation, featuring an impressive collection of generously donated artworks. The event took place in the elegant Ballroom of the Intercontinental Budapest, where guests enjoyed a sophisticated evening of fine dining and philanthropy. The auction was driven by spirited bidding led by the energetic and charismatic auctioneer, Rick Goddard, whose enthusiasm and charm helped raise significant funds for the Foundation’s initiatives.
The highlights of the night were a painting called Strip Poker Night Dream by Sandra Kowalskii, and a colourful rendition of a Rubik′s cube by Derek Mason – sparking an intense bidding war, and ultimately raising a staggering €40,000 and €20,000 respectively.
Proceeds go to support a number of global projects championed by the SiGMA Foundation, which this year included a multi-sensory hall for disadvantaged children in Bataan, Philippines – which was inaugurated this month as part of the SiGMA Asia 2024 agenda, cleft palate surgeries for children in Colombia, and a skill building project for women in the Bonga region in Ethiopia. The auction raised €83,500.
The event received generous support from BETCONSTRUCT, an award-winning technology and service provider for the online and land-based gaming industry.
In an evocative oil painting by Miami-based artist Anna Bukhareva, a young boy’s joyous celebration in a bustling stadium symbolizes hope and potential. Known for her expressive oil and watercolor works, Anna explores human nature through vibrant, dynamic compositions.
Fusing Graffiti Art with Roman and Greek statues, EDO, a Maltese artist based in Cyprus, captures the ever-evolving, electrifying essence of the gaming industry. Influenced by Voka’s spontaneous realism, EDO has exhibited his work worldwide.
Auction 3: Sold for €20,000 to Louis Hadfield (Haddzy)
Infinite Solutions by Derek Mason
Infinite Solutions, a luminous oil painting by Derek Mason, depicts a Rubik’s Cube, embodying the Slavic inventive spirit. It symbolizes the intersection of blockchain, gambling, and strategic innovation, blending gaming with business acumen. Bidding frenzy
Sandra Kowalski, renowned for her innovative acrylic techniques and lenticular printing, presents a captivating piece inspired by the thrill of poker. This fantasy painting reimagines the game, infusing it with heightened adrenaline and a relaxed, yet intense, atmosphere.
In a symbolic scene by Lucienne Spiteri, a banker representing FIAT currency gazes at hot air balloons symbolizing cryptocurrency, pondering the shifting markets. Spiteri, a Maltese artist born in 1970, blends her passion for painting and photography into evocative works.
Haroutin Hakobyan, an Armenian artist born in Gyumri, creates thought-provoking works like “Time and Space.” His art, blending mythology, nature, and religion, features a mesmerizing mix of colors and shapes, evoking timelessness and infinite space.
SiGMA Foundation2025: The road ahead
Looking ahead, the SiGMA Foundation has ambitious plans for the upcoming year. Building on the success of past initiatives, the Foundation aims to expand its reach and scale its impact in key areas.
This expedition will be part of the collective efforts to raise €100,000 to finance a new annex at a hospital in Iquitos, Peru. This hospital, located within the Peruvian Amazon Jungle, is operated by the parish of Saint Martin de Porres and provides essential medical care to impoverished communities across the region. The project, headed by Gozitan Fr Raymond Portelli, the parish priest and practising doctor based in Peru, entails the construction of new patient rooms, a conference room, storage facilities, and a green area for patient recreation. The facility provides essential services to patients suffering from various ailments, including psychological support, long-term care for AIDS patients, treatment for tuberculosis, cirrhosis, cancer, renal failure, and other critical conditions. The new annex will significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to meet the growing demand for medical care and improve the quality of life for those in the region who rely on its services.
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