All of my paintings are authentic, Turkish singer says

ISTANBUL

According to the claims, Gündeş bought fake paintings. She says claims are false and her paintings are real.

Turkish singer Ebru Gündeş has denied claims that her painting collection, valued at 7 million Turkish Liras, is counterfeit. Early reports claimed paintings Gündeş had bought from the Antik Aş and Bali auction houses, which included Hoca Ali Rıza, Fahrelnisa Zeid, Pirreur Bardin, Nazmi Ziya, Fausto Zonaro, DeMango and Hikmet Onat, were fake. The claims have sparked chaos among the auction houses of Turkey. Daily Radikal had reported that Gündeş had bought 13 paintings for her house and 12 of them – all except the Damien Hirst painting she bought from Rafi Portakal – were fake. The expert report given on the paintings determined that the paintings were authentic. Gündeş later had the paintings checked once more to be sure, and it appeared that the paintings were fake. According to the latest reporting by daily Hürriyet, Bali and Antik Aş auction houses said the claims were untrue. Gündeş said: “We are sure that these paintings are real, and we do not have to prove anything to anyone. We will apply to the court. If the paintings are proved to be fake, then we will get our money back.”

The claims are nothing but a lie, Gündeş said, adding that the reports and certificates of the paintings were included with them.

Antik Aş lawyer Ahmet Gürel said Gündeş and her husband, Reza Zarrab, had never bought paintings from the auction house. Hakan Bali, the owner of Bali Auction House, said they had provided consultant services to the couple and they stood behind all works bought from Bali Auction House.