Christian Aid Commissions Famous War Artist to Depict 'Children in Conflict'

A famous war artist was commissioned by Christian Aid to produce a series of paintings that portrays children in conflicts around the world.

John Keane's artwork will be displayed in a new exhibition opening at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in autumn 2007 entitled 'Children in Conflict'.

Through the eyes of the children he met in Angola, southern Africa, his work focuses on the post conflict issues faced by millions of young people living in this war torn country.

John Keane a former official British war artist during the Gulf War, recently spent two weeks in Angola, his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa. He visited Christian Aid partners in the capital Luanda and the remote area of Mavinga, 300km from the Zambian border.

Almost half of Angola's population is under the age of 15 and life expectancy is just 40 years. It has the third highest child mortality rate in the world with more than one in four children dying before their fifth birthday. A peace deal was signed four years ago but the shattered country will require international assistance for many years to come.

John Keane said: "As a father of two, the plight of children in Angola invited poignant comparison. I met children who had endured horrific hardships, who had seen their parents murdered in front of them, had spent many years in Zambia as refugees; damaged children who have no choice but to hope the future will be better than their past. What I found remarkable was their capacity for forgiveness, their appetite for education, their resilience and the fact they could still raise a smile."

Christian Aid has supported local organisations in Angola since 1985. It is a priority country for Christian Aid as so much of the country's infrastructure has been destroyed. The work focuses on ensuring the government deliver on its promises to invest in infrastructure and development, the prevention of the spread of HIV and helping poor communities to improve their standard of living.

Children in Conflict will be displayed in the new £6.7 million extension at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in autumn 2007. The new contemporary building will house national touring exhibitions and will provide a permanent home to Wolverhampton's prestigious Pop Art collection.

Marguerite Nugent, head of Curatorial Services said: "We are delighted that John Keane has been chosen for the Angola Commission. He has a proven track record as a war artist, dealing with political issues in the Gulf, Mexico, Guatemala, Northern Ireland and this country and I'm sure that the work he produces will make a huge impact on our audiences. It is wonderful to welcome him back to Wolverhampton following his last exhibition here in 1997."