I have been involved with the conservation of wildlife for many years as a founding member of the DHKD (Society for the Protection of Nature) in 1975 and the WWF-Turkey (World Wide Fund for Nature) in 1996.
As an artist with such a background it was a source of great pride and also a challenge to create an artkilim ‘tapestry’ to present as a gift of WWF Turkey to the former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, a world renowned global climate change ambassador.
To begin the process of creating this special design, I made several digital sketches. I wanted to create a bold, powerful design that was both straightforward and as to the point as Mr. Gore’s slide presentations. (Image-1)
As an artist with such a background it was a source of great pride and also a challenge to create an artkilim ‘tapestry’ to present as a gift of WWF Turkey to the former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, a world renowned global climate change ambassador.
To begin the process of creating this special design, I made several digital sketches. I wanted to create a bold, powerful design that was both straightforward and as to the point as Mr. Gore’s slide presentations. (Image-1)
When Mr. Gore came to present his lecture on climate change, an event organized by WWF-Turkey and supported by Garanti Bank, at the Ciragan Palace Hotel on June 12, 2007, I had the privilege to personally present my work to him. (Image-2)
Al Gore, Akin Öngör The President of WWF-Turkey, Gülin Öngör and Belkis Balpinar‘The World Cornered’ kilim’s regrettable disappearance gave me another opportunity to prepare new sketches from which Mr. Gore could personally select the final design. I was excited to perform the design, ‘World in Danger,’ the personal choice of a great environmental activist. Accordingly, the second piece was finished and sent to Mr. Gore, a gift from WWF-Turkey. (Image - 3)
As an artist, I want to express how extremely proud I am to have had the opportunity to create this artkilim. Additionally, I wish to present my gratitude to WWF-Turkey and Garanti Bank for giving me the opportunity to create this special piece for such a great man and his quest to raise public awareness about global warming.