Atatürk’s Eyes in Redgrave
St Mary's Church, Redgrave, Suffolk
Unique experience 2 days only - First time in UK
3 metre wide historically significant painting displayed against the magnificent backdrop of the east window of St Mary’s church Redgrave
Who said “Peace at Home, Peace in the World?”
Sat. & Sun. 12th & 13th October 2024
10am to 4pm entry free – can take photos
St. Mary's Redgrave church will be open for the weekend of Sat 12 / Sun 13 October 2024 for a unique experience. Against its magnificent stained glass east window backdrop you will see
Atatürk’s Eyes. He founded the modern Turkish Republic in 1923 and became its first president.
In 1934 he gave women the right to vote and be elected.
He had many wise words which remain relevant today.
“If a society does not march towards its goal with all its women and men together, it is scientifically impossible for it to progress and to become civilized. It should be realized that everything we see on earth is the product of women.”
“Unless the life of the nation faces peril, war is a crime.”
In today’s world of conflict we recall that in 1931 Atatürk said:
“Yurtta barış, dünyada barış için çalışıyoruz.”
“We work for peace at home, peace in the world.”
Local artist Ned has a 35 year relationship with Türkiye and exhibited Turkish themed artworks at St. Mary’s in 2008. Since then this English artist’s image of Atatürk’s Eyes has been displayed by the Turks upon the steps of Anıtkabir, Ankara, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to mark 23rd April, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day and the 100th anniversary of ANZAC and Victory Day. The Eyes travelled through Port Said, Jeddah, Aden, Mumbai, Colombo, Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong, Fuzhou, Nagaski, Kushimoto and Tokyo exhibited on the Turkish Navy vessel TCG Gediz on a voyage which remembered the 1890 loss of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul as a solemn symbol of friendship between Türkiye and Japan..
St. Mary’s Redgrave has a memorial side chapel to those who lost their lives during the two world wars. Following the battles of 1914-1918, Atatürk said of the fallen during battle:
“You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are at peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
Of the 7 original Eyes paintings, 5 are in private collections and the 6th resides in Istanbul. In the summer 2022, Ned painted the 7th Eyes in East Anglia, and had the painting process, time-lapse filmed and released publicly on 1st January 2023 to mark the centenary year of the founding of The Republic of Türkiye in 1923. The Turkish Chief of Staff sent a letter of appreciation on the 23rd January 2023. Days later, 06 February 2023, a devastating earthquake hit Syria and Türkiye. Centenary commemorations ceased over night and the 7th Eyes wrapped and stored since then.
Redgrave St Mary’s church is owned by the Churches Conservation Trust and operated by Redgrave Church Heritage Trust. Although it is not used for regular worship, it remains consecrated, but can be used for community activities. A chance meeting led to an invitation to reveal again and display this singularly important historic painting within St. Mary’s church.
“I don’t know why art is necessary – only that it is. All who in the 1940’s, braved bombs to see one painting in the National Gallery knew it too.”
An answer to Ned from Brian Sewell, Art Critic, Sunday 04 April 2010