Dear Readers,
I’m very pleased to announce that after three months of daubing and dabbing, Issue 28 lands today, and will be with subscribers tomorrow and Saturday, and in shops next week – which is the way it should be.
This issue is, of course, the best one yet, and there are three stories within that we’re incredibly proud of.
In 2021, Sacha Jafri made what was then the world’s largest painting. Titled The Journey of Humanity, it sold for $62 million at an auction in Dubai. It made headlines around the world, with a Frenchman called André Abdoune purchasing it, and with the proceeds going to charities helping children.
But as we reveal for the first time, the money never changed hands. In what is the most expansive and ambitious feature we’ve ever published, Jack Jeffery and Abraham Elton tell the story of Jafri and Abdoune, a tale that ranges from the playing fields of Eton to the Parisian banlieues.
Many of you will be familiar with the American Candy stores and ‘Harry Potter’ shops that litter this country. Cormac Kehoe uncovers the Afghan syndicate behind the shops, and details how the American money that came to rebuild a shattered country flew out of Kabul airport, over the Hindu Kush and back onto British high streets.
In the 1990s and into the 2000s, Howard Spooner was the club king of Chelsea, with venues like Embargo, Crazy Larry’s, Public and the Leopard Lounge, running with villains, toffs and princes. If you like royal gossip or you devoured London Falling then you’ll love this Clive Martin classic.
Elsewhere, Sophie Heawood and John Niven return as columnists, Fergus Butler-Gallie ponders the question of Rory Stewart, Daniel Shailer meets the Shetland separatists and we’ve got the bounciest and broadest ETC section in years.
I’m also delighted to be carrying more advertising in this print issue. The Fence is a magazine that considers itself very much within the world, not set against it. We have placements from MagCulture, Energiraven, Minor Attractions and the FT Weekend Festival, and they have been made in collaboration with the editorial team and Studio Mathias Clottu, who has done a brilliant job on making this issue sparkle.
There’s much more besides – it’s the best one yet, let me remind you – and I can’t wait for you all to read it.
We’ll be back on Tuesday with a conventional OTF, and please do get in touch with any queries or questions. If you’d like to know more about the articles above or see a media pack, please do email me at cb@the-fence.com.
All the best,
Charlie