Deputy PM Şimşek’s Aleppo painting for Alzheimer Association sold for 151,000 Turkish Liras

ISTANBUL

A painting drawn by Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek has been sold for 151,000 Turkish Liras ($41,000) at an auction, donating the profits to the Turkish Alzheimer Association.

As a part of a project initiated by painter Tülin Kanun titled “Bi.Re.Y” (initials for “Draw a Picture”) aiming to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Şimşek’s painting features Arabic writing of the word “Aleppo” with blood dripping in the shape of an eye over ruins of the city. 

An anonymous buyer won the auction and bought Şimşek’s painting for 151,000 liras.

Before the auction ceremony, Şimşek said he would host the buyer of his painting either at the Prime Minister’s Office or at his own residence for a dinner.

Şimşek later thanked the buyer of his painting on behalf of 600,000 Alzheimer’s patients and signed it.

The event, held in Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace, featured a number of paintings drawn by individuals from the Turkish business and arts worlds.

The charity event also saw the attendance Şimşek’s wife Esra Şimşek, Gedik Holding chairwoman Hülya Gedik, Suzan Şen, the daughter of former Fenerbahçe president Ali Şen, TV personality Beyazıt Öztürk, actress Wilma Elles, academic Can Baydarol, photographer Nihat Odabaşı and singer Ayşegül Aldinç.

The pictures included in the auction were sold in an auction and the income of the event was donated to the Turkish Alzheimer Association.