The family of the late Dr Björn Graf Finck von Finckenstein will on Monday open an exhibition under the title ‘Celebration of Life’ in his honour.

In collaboration with StArt Art Gallery, it will include an online auction of the private art collection of Von Finckenstein. This art collection comprises a wide range of artworks by Namibian and international artists – from historic to contemporary artists. Proceeds from the auction will go to three nominated charities which have a special connection to the family.

The ‘Celebration of Life’ exhibition and auction will be open to the public from 8 to 14 November at the Frames for Africa shop located in the Eros shopping centre.

Better known as Fincki to his friends and Dr Fincki to his patients, Von Finckenstein was born on 23 July 1958 in Usakos, and grew up in the Karibib district on the family farm’ Okongava, meaning ‘The place of the rhino’.

His first day of school in Karibib proved to be formative for him becoming a political activist as he could not understand why he had to go to a different school than his friends whom he was growing up with on the farm. In 1978, whilst still at school, Fincki became a Swapo member, and actively fought for Namibia’s independence. As a result, after studying medicine in Stellenbosch and doing his internship at the Windhoek Central and Katutura Hospitals, he had to go into exile as it was too dangerous for him to stay in the country. After his return back home, he again worked in these hospitals, and continued to do so even after becoming the mayor of the City of Windhoek in 1995. Being a doctor was not just his job, he wholeheartedly believed in his Hippocratic oath. 

Fincki knew artist John Muafangejo personally, and many political messages reached him hidden inside his ‘poster rolls’ that friends and fellow political activists Nico Bessinger and Danny Tjongarero kept sending him to keep him informed of events in Namibia, then under South African occupation and called South West Africa.

His daughter Anielle remembers, “growing up, I was always surrounded by an abundance of art and artists. I only recently realised how special it is to have a ‘Muafangejo’ in a house and not a gallery”. 

After the passing of Von Finckenstein in December last year, the family decided to create an auction of these artworks to spread them into new homes and simultaneously raise funds for three organisations: Save The Rhino Trust, Elephant-Human Relations Aid, and Namibian Animal Welfare Association.

Those interested in participating in the online auction should sign up via a digital form to get a bidding number to place bids on any artwork they wish to acquire.

For information on how to participate in the auction, visit: www.startartgallery.com/von-finckenstein-auction.