Johnny Depp’s first sculpture, The Bunnyman, will be unveiled by the Sigg Art Foundation at the Contemporary Istanbul art fair from September 22-27.
The two-metre white bronze will be presented outdoors at Tersane Istanbul, the historic Ottoman shipyard, as one of the fair’s special projects.
Described as a half-human, half-rabbit guardian carrying a “sword of truth”, The Bunnyman began with a drawing by Depp’s 24-year-old son Jack when he was around five, which reminded the Hollywood actor of his own recurring childhood dream.
The figure has since appeared across his sketches, paintings and prints.
Depp said: “When people see the painting I did – The Bunnyman – they always ask the same question: where did it come from?
“Some character that Jack had scribbled, beautiful scribbles into that shape, that image, reminded me of a kind of recurrent dream that I had as a child, probably around Jack’s age, five, six…”
It was developed with Pantheon Art, a company which manages Depp’s art, and cast at Milan’s Fonderia Artistica Battaglia.
The presentation coincides with Depp’s exhibition, A Bunch Of Stuff, at the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, which features more than 200 works.
Pierre Sigg, founder of the Sigg Art Foundation, said: “Contemporary Istanbul now draws international artists and galleries who would not have considered it a decade ago.
“I wanted to contribute to that shift, first as an international executive board member of the fair, then through the Sigg Art Foundation’s participation as a special project.
“This year we are presenting Johnny Depp’s first sculpture. That an artist of his standing chose Istanbul tells you where the fair sits today. Contemporary Istanbul has earned its place.”
Depp has been making art for years. A collection of paintings he released in 2022 sold out in under 24 hours.
He has previously said: “I’ve always used art to express my feelings and to reflect on those who matter most to me, like my family, friends and people I admire.
“My paintings surround my life, but I kept them to myself and limited myself. No one should ever limit themselves.”
