28 August 2008, a 15-year old assailant on Boundry Street, East London stabbed Oliver Hemsley, 20-year-old Central St.Martin’s College Student eight times in an unprovoked attack. Oliver narrowly escaped with his life and spent the next 134 days in intensive care, his spinal cord was partially severed leaving him paralysed never to walk again. Consequently Oliver will require constant medical support for the remainder of his life, the attack was an indiscriminate tragedy, which only serves to defy comprehension.

Out of darkness comes positive action, 'Art Against Knives' is an initiative based around Oli's love for art and draws public focus to the violence under our very own nose. The exhibition runs over two days and covers photography, fashion, fine art, illustration, sculpture and installation takes place at Shoreditch Town Hall and Shoreditch House all artwork is available for sale, with an auction taking place on the evening of the second day.

With a huge community of people coming forward to lend support, artists on board include Patrick Wolf, Vivienne Westwood, Wolfgang Tillmans, Antony Gormley, Rankin, Giles Deacon, Seb Chew, Aside, Reggie, Fern Cotton, Johnny Standing, Will Young, Russell and Ryan Styles, Eliza Doolittle, Johnny Woo, in conjunction with Central St.Martin's students who will be providing several pieces of artworks.

The exhibition runs on Monday 04 May 2009 at Shoreditch Town Hall, 10:00 - 21:00 free entry, with an exhibition of auctioned work on Tuesday 05 May 2009 at Shoreditch House 12:00 - 19:00 free entry, the auction to be held later that evening at Shoreditch House, £10, invite only.

The artwork available for auction is available to view online here.