#iClapFor
It began with an idea between father and son - Ian and Elliott Berry. “I Clap For” happened by accident, a reaction to the clapping that took off around the world. Their response has now been projected all around the globe. It also created community and a way to give message of thanks during the COVID-19 pandemic - aimed at those we clap for.
Watch a short 5 minute Documentary of Ian and Elliott Berry about the #iclapfor project
Remember, when the claps end,
the caring continues
What next?
Does the clapping ending mean we no longer care? We’re certainly not through it and who knows what is to come.
There is currently an Exhibition of Ian Berry’s work at Museum Rijswijk in The Netherlands where the original clapping hands are seen along with a documentary of the project and the lenticular installation.
If you’re interested in joining this community and spreading this message please do not hesitate to reach out.
from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Conwy castle
Southport
Bootle
St Ives
Portsmouth
Colchester
Ipswich
See the Journey
Clapping around the world
#iclapfor was also seen all across Ireland
The Baltic, Gateshead
A beautiful video of a heartfelt tribute to those we clap for by Drone Works North East
The Piece Hall, Halifax
An emotional tribute by Halo Vue and the Piece Hall
How it happened
Ian Berry lives & works from his London studio and was moved by the clapping, at 8pm on Thursdays every week in the UK. His son couldn’t wait for Thursdays to come, often asking ‘is it Thursday yet?’ and preparing for it. He saw how his friends in New York and elsewhere did it everyday, at 7pm.
With trying to get on with work in the studio while home schooling, they came up with the idea to make a clapping piece through the material he is best known for - denim. It was his son Elliott, 6, who took the photo of his hands. Ian sent it on as a simple card to say thank to some of his friends in the health service, many who had been sick.
While watching a film on a projector it was Elliott that said, can we put the clapping on there? Soon they were beaming it off the balcony of his home and an idea was born. . .
‘With the clapping Elliott was engaged with what was going on so it enabled us to be able to tell him what it was all for and now he knows all doubt our family members and friends out there and he sees them as the heroes’
photo Debbie Bragg
From Home Isolation to the top of the world
A little boy gets his dream
About the Artist | Ian Berry
At first glance, many believe that Ian Berry’s work are blue toned photographs or indigo coloured oil paintings. This is not only when viewed online or in print when much of the depth and detail is lost, but even up close - never mind when it is animated to clap!
It is hard to believe that this all started 15 years ago with one simple observation, noticing a pile of old jeans and seeing the contrasting shades of blue. Some scissors and glue later he soon became one of the most talked about young artists! It was just a simple observation that led to him making the clapping animation also - and there is something amazing in this simplicity.
‘Simplicity, yes, but I can’t do hands.’ said Ian.
Denim, a material that we feel so comfortable with and one that is democratic and universal. With it, Ian has been shown around the world and has been written about as a leading top 30 under 30 artist in the world and one of the Top 50 most influential people in denim for 2019…but don’t call it denim art.
His success has caught many eyes and while the works are painstaking to make he has done commissioned portraits of Debbie Harry, Italians Giorgio Armani and Lapo Elkann, to Jennifer Saunders, and Brazilians Ayrton Senna and Giselle.
Throughout 2020 and 2021 Ian will show his work in numerous museums across Europe (Germany, Holland, Switzerland, UK and Sweden) and in the United States.
His well known shows have included Behind Closed Doors and My Beautiful Launderette in 2016 and Hotel California in 2019 and often depict scenes of isolation which took on a new meaning in this period.
Now many other artists have joined Ian, and you can find them here
THANK YOU TO
Cone Denim | Tricia Carey, Carved in Blue | See the Bigger Picture | Droneworks North East | Marc Watson | Helen Tully | Ben Fender | The Coyote Cinema, Mexico City | Gryder Gallery, New Orleans | The Jo Cox Foundation | Newcastle/Gateshead Council | Newcastle Tourist Board | Sefton Council | Leicester City Council | Pin Your Thanks | Jenny Beavan | The Piece Hall, Halifax | the Kingsgate, Huddersfield | Shrewsbury BID | Soden Collection | Huddersfield BID | Wood Streets Walls | Debbie Bragg | Kimi Gill | ATMA | The Queens Hotel, Portsmouth | Blackhorse Lane Ateliers | Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital | RB&H Charity | TB&h Arts | Gemma Raymond | Azure Peace | The Great North Children’s Hospital | Royal Victoria Infirmary | Brendan Smith | Tonello | Diane Allen | Sebastian Quinn | Greensboro | Greensboro Parks and Gardens | Evan Morrison | Hudson Hill | Kim Berkuizen | Annica Gavelin | Anthony Atanasio | Berry Poetic | Michiel Schoonhoven | Brixton Fire Station | Slaithwaite Fire Station | Dean Weavil | Aleksander Gama | Barbara Robles | Cathedral House Huddersfield | New Bucks Uni | Kartini Leet | Halo Vue | Francis McCory | Karl Holdsworth | Mauricio Arroyave | Andy | Coal Drop Yards | GG photography | High flying Drone Shots | Andrew Baker Photography | James Russell | South Bank Centre | Royal Festival Hall | Noel Macher-Yeo | Newcastle Cathedral | Hiut Denim Co | Levi Stauss Museum, Buttenheim | Princeton Library | Buttenheim Council | Dr Tanja Roppelt | Ray McCann Photography | Andrea Hunt photography | Museum Rijswijk, Holland | Make it Blue | W1 Curates