Emine Erdogan celebrates Ian Berry’s work
Artist Ian Berry’s latest exhibition has opened in Turkey after a special request from Emine Erdogan, wife of the country’s president, founder of the Zero Waste Foundation and chairperson of the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board.
She joined Berry to open the ‘Secrets are in the Garden’ show at the Presidential National Library, in Ankara, cutting the ribbon with a host of dignitaries, and touring the works to find out about the production process and their meanings.
She said: “Discarded and forgotten denim fabrics find new meaning and offer a powerful narrative. This exhibition speaks of remembering, connecting and rooting oneself in the future.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate our artist, who places sustainability at the centre of art as a cultural responsibility, and everyone who contributed to this exhibition.”
Ian Berry opened his first solo exhibition in Turkey at Kalyon Kültür in Istanbul in January. The Beyond Denim exhibition attracted tens of thousands of people to the venue, including Emine Erdogan’s team.
The show in Ankara features 13 works, with the Secret Garden being a central focus.
Ian Berry said: “I was honoured to be the first artist to ever show in this space."
Image: Ian Berry, his son and Emine Erdogan
