Art duo auctions blown-up van to fund community power station in Farage's Clacton

This Saturday, artists Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn will auction their previous works to finance a community-driven renewable energy station in Clacton, represented by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The auction, taking place at a secret venue, will be conducted by former YBA Gavin Turk, aiming to raise a minimum of £250,000. A highlight of the event is the remains of a gold Ford Transit van, which contained £1.2m in counterfeit banknotes and was detonated in London's Docklands in 2019 for their film 'Bank Job.' The remnants, valued at £100,000, were transformed into a mobile displayed at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. Powell has sought institutional purchase from the V&A and Arts Council. Other items include bottles of Zorokovich 1917 vodka from a 2009 project exploring Edelstyn's Ukrainian heritage, sold to Selfridges. An online auction is available until 31 May. This initiative addresses a DeSmog report revealing that Reform UK garnered 92% of its £2.3m donations from the oil and gas sector since December 2019. The duo previously established a community-owned solar power station in Waltham Forest, London, inspiring over 130 other streets. Proceeds will support their not-for-profit production company and a film about the Clacton project, with the power station being funded through a community benefit society. Ed Miliband visited the artists two weeks ago, and their film has impacted UK community energy policies.