20 Years of War Child

The charity was founded by filmmaker Bill Leeson and writer David Wilson in response to the plight of the children affected by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia who they saw when filming in the region.

The charity says it has since helped more than 800,000 children across countries including Bosnia, Chechnya, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Over the last 20 years, a huge number of artists and musician have come on board to help raise funds and awareness, and it is they who will be documented in a series of previously unseen images by the likes of photographers Mary McCartney and Tom Stoddart in the show.

Alongside the photography, the exhibition will also display original album artwork and video footage, as well as three newly commissioned artworks by street artist Slinkachu.

Slinkachu’s installations use his signature models of ‘little people’, going about their little days in the big world.

The pieces for the show are as harrowing as they are humourous, depicting tiny figures displayed in playgrounds around London, aiming to highlight the injustice of children affected by war.

Slinkachu says, ‘I’ve been keen to do something dealing with the impact that war has on the often voiceless victims of conflict – children.  My work features the unheard, the unseen, forgotten and the often ignored people in today’s world so this project was an obvious collaboration to get involved with.’

20 Years of War Child runs from 19 February – 28 March at the British Music Experience, O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10