Mo'ayed Bahr, 5, demanded LE25 for his painting. His work of art was put up for auction on Facebook and within 24 hours, it had sold for LE2,100.
Bahr's 60×60 cm painting was displayed on Facebook by Hamdy Reda, founder of the "Art Allewa: A Space for Art" exhibition.
Bahr received half the money and the other half was donated, in accordance with an agreement between Bahr and Reda. The donation went toward the establishment of free workshops for children from the Ard Ellewa neighborhood where the Art Ellewa exhibition is located.
Bahr is one of many children from Ard Ellewa who regularly goes to attend workshops held by the art institution or simply paint.
Bahr was used to visiting artist Ibrahim Khattab's studio near Art Ellewa where he drew his LE2,100 painting. Reda admired the painting and agreed with Khattab to display the painting at the Art Ellewa exhibition. Bahr agreed to receive a football in return for his painting, Reda said. But when the ball was destroyed, he returned to ask for the painting, Reda added.
Reda suggested putting the painting up for auction and dividing the money in return for which Bahr demanded no less than LE25. The price of the painting later soared to LE2,100.
An Egyptian businessman who resides in Germany, Omar Khorshid, bought the painting to encourage the Art Ellewa project. Khorshid's rivals bid on the painting until it reached LE1,400. Khorshid then said he would buy it for LE2,100 to encourage young children to paint.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
