Ash and charcoal salvaged from the burning of the Amazon rainforest have been recycled to help create works of art to support the communities of the area. 

Tacita Dean, one of the artists participating in “From the Ashes,” a series of works created by 29 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, told The Art Newspaper: "The organizers did something very intelligent and pretty wonderful; they've recycled ash into paint and inks and pastels and they're beautiful things actually. They are made of the cinder, ash and the burnt trees [from] the destruction. So it's very clever-[there is] direct contact to the place that you are trying to raise money for."  

The works will go to auction at Christie's London on 9 March. Part of the sale proceeds will go towards funds for the Xingu Indigenous communities of the Amazon, and firefighting equipment and monitoring technologies in the various villages.

Simon Butler, founder of Migrate Art, a social art enterprise behind the initiative, created in conjunction with People's Palace Projects, witnessed first hand how the Wauja and Kuikuro people are grappling with deforestation and climate change.

Thiago Jesus, head of climate action at People’s Palace Projects, adds: "The Amazon is suffering one of the worst droughts in its history amid continued criminal deforestation. From The Ashes sheds light on the resistance of Indigenous communities fighting the climate crisis and the importance of their cultural practices in protecting the Amazon from the destructive impacts of human activities."