Exhibit supports education

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Emine Erdoğan (R) and Demet Sabancı Çetindoğan attend the opening of the exhibition. The revenue from the sale of works is expected to help construct a school and to support education. AA photo

Istanbul artists from across the spectrum have gathered together to put on “Benim İstanbul’um” (My Istanbul), an exhibition at Çırağan Palace to support education the world over.

All the artists present infused their works with their love of art, Emine Erdoğan, the wife of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during the exhibition’s opening on Dec. 17. “The artists are also supporting education by participating in this exhibition,” she added.

The social responsibility aspects of the project is an exciting development, according to Erdoğan. “I came here because this project is supporting education. Today, the prime minister went to Konya to watch the Şeb-i Arus ceremony [in honor of mystical poet Rumi], but rather than going with him to Konya, I came here just to be present at this exhibition,” she said.

The exhibition was organized by the World Travel Channel. “We would like to share this project with everyone. We are doing this project with UNICEF to celebrate the first year of our tourism channel, World Travel Channel,” said Demet Sabancı Çetindoğan, the owner of the television station.

Çetindoğan also said they were trying to support the development of art and education.

Revenue from paintings sold during the ongoing exhibition will be donated to support the education of children and construct a new school.

The participating artists reflected their own perspective of Istanbul in the photographs. “We have heard that everything in Istanbul is very precious. In fact, each district in Istanbul is very precious.

Everything is like a jewel,” Erdoğan said.

Most beautiful city

Noting that Istanbul was one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Erdoğan said: “When artists are inspired by the city, the city becomes more precious and beautiful. Each day we see things and we pass by the streets, districts and many modern buildings and old buildings. However, seeing them via the perspective of artists is different.”

Ultimately, the photographers are reflecting the city that residents are used to seeing every day, she said. “Artists reflect the things that we do not see. They reflect the things that are hidden and we do not usually notice.”

Erdoğan said residents of Istanbul owed many things to the city, adding that it was very important to do something about the metropolis and contribute to education. “Artists are using the city as an inspiration, and this is a way of showing gratitude to this city.”

As part of the project, famous auction house owner Rafi Portakal sold “Karaköy,” a famous photograph from Istanbul photographer Ara Güler. Taken in 1950, the picture was purchased by Erdoğan Demirören for 275,000 Turkish Liras.

Emine Erdoğan, meanwhile, also revealed that she had bought Tahsin Aydoğmuş’s “Arnavutköy.”