The famous British artist Ian Berry, who tells stories through denim fabric, has opened his first exhibition in Turkey, titled ‘Beyond Denim,’ at Kalyon Kültür.
This exhibition, which features the most special works from the artist’s twenty-year career, as well as pieces created specifically for Kalyon Kültür, will be open to visitors until February 14, 2025.
The eagerly awaited opening of Ian Berry’s first exhibition in Istanbul, ‘Beyond Denim,’ took place on Friday, November 29, hosted by Reyhan Kalyoncu, Chair of the Kalyon Holding Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, with the participation of the artist Ian Berry, the press, and special guests at Kalyon Kültür.
In his opening speech, artist Ian Berry shared the following about the exhibition: “Istanbul is a fascinating city with its historical and architectural texture, and the fast-paced flow of daily life. I am very happy to be here. Twenty years ago, when I returned home after university, I had a pile of jeans I couldn’t wear. Back then, I had made a portrait of Tony Blair from newspaper clippings and thought I could do something similar with denim. It took a few years to establish this technique with denim. While unpicking the stitches, I was thinking about the people who made and wore these clothes. Suddenly, I found myself swept up in many emotions. Denim became a tool I used to make the art I wanted to create more accessible. Everyone wears denim, which is why I work with this material. I want everyone to be able to access the art I create. In this mansion, where names like Poet İhsan Raif Hanım and Arif Mardin once lived, there is a rich history intertwined with art, which deeply affected me. When choosing the works for this exhibition, I paid attention to the fact that this place used to be a ‘home.’ Our visitors will see both my new works and pieces I had exhibited before but reworked to fit Kalyon Kültür’s architecture.”
Reyhan Kalyoncu, Chair of the Kalyon Holding Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, emphasized the importance of preserving historical and cultural values at Kalyon Kültür, which has inspired many artists, poets, and writers: “Cultural and artistic activities bring people together, unite them, and heal them. We know that art heals violence, anger, and conflict… It brings together different identities and cultures in a common language and emotion. That’s why we say ‘art is everyone’s right,’ and we invite people of all ages to explore the colorful and rich world of art. We are excited to host contemporary artist Ian Berry here at Kalyon Kültür. With his exhibition ‘Beyond Denim,’ he is holding his first exhibition in Turkey at Kalyon Kültür. Our exhibition will take you on a journey through a magical world made entirely of denim fabric. I hope you enjoy this journey.”
The curator of the exhibition, Kalyon Kültür Art Director Aslı Bora, stated: “In this exhibition, our artist Ian Berry, one of the pioneers in associating denim with art, works exclusively with denim. Berry’s works take denim out of the realm of modern consumption mechanisms and mass culture, integrating it with new discourse for sustainability and social transformation. Concepts like habits and waste are re-examined through this discourse. The audience is invited on a journey through this blue universe, both in their own memories and in the collective memory of society.”
After the speeches, special guests, including Gülden Gül, wife of the Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül, and Deputy Governor Serap Özmen Çetin, visited the exhibition accompanied by the artist Ian Berry.
New Works Exclusively for Kalyon Kültür and Ian Berry’s 20-Year Collection at This Exhibition
Believing that there is no better material than denim to depict life and all its emotions, Ian Berry selected works from his paintings and installations created over the years for the Beyond Denim exhibition, reinterpreting them according to the architecture of Kalyon Kültür. Among these works are the key pieces from the Behind Closed Doors exhibition, which was highly praised in London and displayed in renowned museums across Europe. Also featured is the artwork Paradise Lost, where Ian depicted the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles using only denim, and a portrait of Hotel California. Another notable work is Denim Legends, a portrait series of famous stars, which was displayed in museums and galleries, composed of responses from denim experts around the world to the question “Who is your Denim Legend?”. One of the exhibition’s most captivating pieces is Secret Garden, featuring dozens of handmade plants and flowers, a famous work by Berry.
Additionally, the artist has prepared new works specifically for this exhibition. One of these is a series inspired by Chinese astrology, featuring 12 animal figures and symbols associated with luck and positive thinking. Another work created for the Turkish audience is a still life inspired by 15th-century Iznik ceramics, characterized by blue and white designs. In this piece, Berry depicts flowers in a vase, creating an illusion as if multiple ceramics are combined into one piece.
About Ian Berry:
Noticing a pile of old denim jeans and the contrasting shades of blue… Ian Berry quickly became one of the most talked-about young artists, thanks to a pair of scissors and some glue. Although he admits that it all began as an experiment, he soon realized the connection he had with denim, especially with other people’s jeans, as he worked with the material. He had found a way to communicate through his art, and within a short period, he became one of the world’s top 30 artists under 30 and a Rivet 50 winner. This recognition led to him being named one of the most influential 50 people in the denim world in 2019, and WeAR Magazine consistently included him in their Top 100 list.
Originally from Huddersfield, a once-thriving textile town in Northern England, Berry’s background contributed to his success. Gaining attention from many, he managed to create several commissioned portraits despite the labor-intensive process. Some of these portraits include famous figures such as Debbie Harry, Jennifer Saunders, Giorgio Armani, Lapo Elkann, and Brazilian model Giselle. However, his most famous portrait is one of Brazilian Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, which he made using denim to support the foundation established in Senna’s name. In 2021, Berry was commissioned to create a portrait of Garibaldi for the city of Genoa, Italy. In 2022, he completed portraits of three leading Chilean artists—Jorge González, Ana Tijoux, and Roberto Márquez of Illapu. He was also tasked with creating a portrait of Levi Strauss for the iconic Denim Innovators Museum at the Levi Strauss Museum in Buttenheim, Germany. In 2023, Berry was selected to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 501 jeans with large-scale works exhibited in Paris, Milan, and Madrid. Notable shows include Behind Closed Doors (2016), My Beautiful Launderette (2016), and Hotel California (2019). In San Francisco, he opened a permanent installation of Secret Garden at the New San Fran Flower Mart. In 2022, he became a founding member of Art Materialism, a movement centered on artists who explore and create with a single material throughout their careers. Having lived and worked in Sydney, Australia, Skåne, Sweden, and Amsterdam, Berry now resides in Poplar, East London.
