Picasso wind in Van: Original works exhibited

A special exhibition of original works by world-renowned painter Pablo Picasso was presented to art lovers in Van as part of the Turkey Culture Road Festival. Held from July 12–20, the festival's exhibition, titled "Creation Is Everything," featured 47 of the artist's original works, including etchings, drawings, posters, lithographs, and photographs.

The exhibition, held at the Tariria Culture, Art and Gastronomy Center, attracted considerable interest from Van residents, showcasing Picasso's works from various periods. All of the works are originals, authenticated by the artist's heirs.

Yeter Özdemir, one of the visitors to the exhibition, said, "It's a pleasure to see the works of such a significant artist in Van. Both the venue and the atmosphere were very impressive."

Teacher Fatih Yazıcı emphasized the educational aspect of the exhibition, saying, "I think these kinds of events are inspiring for our students. They're an important cultural opportunity for Van."

Art student Harun Metin said, "Seeing the works live was very impressive. Having such an exhibition in Van is a great opportunity for those interested in art."

Uğur Bekdemir, one of the event organizers, stated that the Picasso exhibition toured seven Anatolian cities this year, including Adana, Bursa, and Van, following major cities like Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Antalya. He added, "Art is universal. It's invaluable for the Ministry of Culture to bring such world artists together with the people of Anatolia. The interest has exceeded expectations."

The Türkiye Culture Road Festival aims to expand cultural access by bringing prominent figures in world art to Anatolian cities. The Picasso exhibition will continue to meet art lovers in cities such as Nevşehir, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Mardin, and Diyarbakır in the coming days.