BERLIN.- Christoph Schlingensief worked on the idea for the Operndorf Afrika (Opera Village Africa) from 2008 onwards. He conceived it as a place for intercultural encounters and experiments, as well as an artistic reservoir for the future. The foundation stone was laid in spring 2010, and recently the elementary school in the opera village near Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou was opened. In 2012, further construction is to be realised as part of this project, financed largely through private donations and sponsorship monies.

An art auction at the Nationalgalerie at Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart in Berlin will now help the Operndorf Afrika to grow. On 8 March 2012, AUKTION 3000 will take place at Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin, with Peter Raue acting as host and auctioneer. Numerous internationally renowned artists have already donated works for this fundraiser, among them Marina Abramovic, Pipilotti Rist, Georg Baselitz, Christo, Olafur Eliasson, Andreas Gursky, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Günther Uecker.

The auction does not just unite the many supporters of an ideal, it is also a testimony to close friendships. Matthew Barney, for example, whose work greatly impressed Christoph Schlingensief in many respects and whom he met several times, is supporting the auction with a photograph from the Crewmaster cycle. Patti Smith, a friend of Christoph Schlingensief for many years, donated a drawing that that she made in the summer of 2010 during a joint exhibition at Galerie Sonja Junkers; the drawing has a personal dedication to her friend.

The Nationalgalerie supports the project Operndorf Afrika through the auction at Hamburger Bahnhof-Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin. From 24 February to 4 March 2012, all works will be exhibited at the Museum.

All works to be auctioned can be seen at www.auktion3000.com. Information about the conditions of the auction, as well as how to submit bids in writing or by telephone, is also available on this website. There will be a catalogue for the auction.