"Freedom Candles" by COARSE x Amnesty International

Amnesty International Freedom Candles designed by Mark Landwehr & Sven Waschk of coarse, with a total of 30 x limited edition candles to be listed up for online auction beginning April 19th, and lasting thru to the 27th, for a total of 8 days. One candle will be released every hour for 30 hours. All proceeds from the candles will go towards Amnesty International’s work to defend and promote human rights.


Three candle designs have been produced - each one representing a different human rights injustice - and come in limited editions of 10. When the candle is burned, the wax sculpture depicting the injustice burns away to reveal a new bronze figure inside—symbolising the positive change that human rights activism can help to effect (Full individual images Viewable on my FB-album). Truly inspired and inspiring work.


Candle one begins as a political prisoner being tortured. It burns away to reveal the same man being reunited with his son. Amnesty International is launching a major new global campaign against torture on 13 May 2014.


Candle two begins as a military rifle. It burns away to reveal a pen signing the world’s first global Arms Trade Treaty—a treaty that followed decades of intensive
campaigning by Amnesty International and other NGOs.


Candle three begins as a young girl who has been forced into sexual slavery. It burns away to reveal a young girl who is free to make her own choices. Amnesty International believes that it is everybody’s right to make their own decisions about their health, body and sexual life.

“This collaboration with coarse brings together the worlds of art and activism; and we hope that they gain attention from collectors, design fanatics, and Amnesty International supporters alike,” said Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Senior Director of Campaigns and Communications at Amnesty International. “Candles are reminiscent of Amnesty International’s iconic symbol but the candles produced by coarse bring this to a new level. The wax figurines represent the injustices we campaign against which burn down to reveal a lasting image in bronze of the positive outcomes we strive for.”