Tim 'Avicii' Bergling is one of the most celebrated and beloved producers, artists, and songwriters of the 21st century. Since 2018, he has been missed by family, friends, colleagues, and millions of fans worldwide. On October 1, all eyes will be on Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm, where The Avicii Collection – A charity auction will be held. The proceeds will benefit The Tim Bergling Foundation, founded by his family in the late artist's name, working for young people's mental health and well-being.
The charity auction presents personal items that once belonged to the legendary DJ and is held by the world's oldest auction house, Stockholms Auktionsverk, which not only resides in Tim Bergling's native hometown Stockholm but more precisely at Nybrogatan 32, only a couple of blocks from his old apartment on Karlavägen.
"We are incredibly proud to present this auction. Tim Bergling touched countless people worldwide and continues to do so both through his music and the foundation the family has established in his name. "
"It is a true honor to support The Tim Bergling Foundation to help even more young people. We have 350 years of experience passing on the artifacts of some of history's most prominent cultural figures and consider it a privilege," says Cecilia Gave, CEO of Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Donated by the Family
Two hundred sixty-seven lots will go under the hammer without reserve or commission. The items range from sneakers to clothes, musical instruments, and other memorabilia related to his musical career. Of course, the items up for sale are tied together by their personal provenance, as Tim Bergling lived with and cared about these things.
"We've been cataloging and curating the auction selection since the beginning of the year. It's a delicate process, and we've been very mindful to handle everything in a respectful way. We have also learned about parts of Tim's life through these items and the contexts in which they have been part. Although he was not particularly fond of fashion per se – for example, Tim rarely changed before going on stage – his t-shirts, jeans, caps, and sneakers became trend-setting in their own way," says Malin Sveholm.
All of the items going under the hammer are donated by Tim Bergling's family. The fact that the items are now being auctioned for charity aligns with the beloved artist's philosophy of sharing the fruits of your success with others.
...his view of money was that the more you have, the more reason you have to share it – to make the world a better place
"The family has long considered how to best handle these items and decided that a charity auction for The Tim Bergling Foundation was the best option rather than keeping them in storage. Holding an auction for The Tim Bergling Foundation – whose goal is to support the mental well-being of young people – is transforming them into financial resources to help others," says Stockholms Auktionsverk specialist Malin Sveholm, who oversees the auction.
Personal Items
Avicii in his Cheap Monday-shirt with Madonna at Ultra Music Festival 2012 © Rutger Geerling
With a personal style that combined streetwear and luxury brands, Bergling defined a signature look for his generation. Among the items that will go under the hammer on October 1 are the Cheap Monday shirt that Tim' Avicii' Bergling wore on stage with Madonna at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami in 2012 and a pair of burgundy Louis Vuitton sneakers that he wore in 2014 when he went to Miami to work with Wyclef Jean.
"Tim Bergling himself was not a collector in the sense that he collected things to accumulate an estate. We have learned that he did not attach much value to material possessions. Instead, his view of money was that the more you have, the more reason you have to share it – to make the world a better place," says Tom Österman at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
The hoodie from Tim’s high school, ’Östra Real’ in Stockholm. The customized print shows that he once spelt his stage name ’Avici’, with only one ’i’ at the end of his stage name. The hoodie was a favorite garment that Tim had worn for many years. © Sean Eriksson
Another particularly personal item is Tim Bergling's high school hoodie from Östra Real in Stockholm. The customized print shows that he once spelled his stage name 'Avici' with only one i at the end. The stage name Avicii stems from the word Avīci, which means the lowest level of Buddhist hell. That was also what Tim Bergling was referring to, but when he went to Myspace to register, the moniker was already taken – to resolve this generational online dilemma, he added an i, and the rest is music history.
Hammer auction
The auction will take place at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm and online on Tuesday, October 1, at 3:00 pm local time. (9:00 am NYC, 6:00 am LA, 10:00 pm Tokyo.)
The viewing at Nybrogatan 32 is open to the public from September 24–30.
)
