Hold On, Through Despair, Through Darkness, and Towards Hope Painting

Hakan Erkam has built his career on persistence, invention, and a deep commitment to art and the environment. Moving to England over 35 years ago, he worked evenings in garages to support his practice, often creating from whatever materials he could salvage. Broken public toilet tiles, leftover cement, and discarded exhaust pipes became the foundation of his early experiments. Teaching himself to weld, he transformed these fragments into a monumental eco-tree sculpture, a piece that established his name as an ecoartist. Since then, Hakan has exhibited internationally, showcasing works across painting, photography, ex-libris, and sculpture. His art explores themes of eco-art, social issues, and surrealist influences, reflecting both his personal journey and his concern for global challenges. He has exhibited widely in Dubai and across the UK, including Chichester, London, and Worthing and has held a solo exhibition in Dubai. His ex-libris work has been featured in Belgian exhibitions, while his art has also appeared in international catalogues, including the Hong Kong Central Library. Most recently, he was invited to show in two exhibitions in Rome in 2025, strengthening his growing European presence.