Berry, aka Denimu, first started his work with denim after being greeted by a pile of old jeans after a trip to his childhood home in Huddersfield, England. Where most people would see a heap of garbage or at best a charity donation, he saw a new medium. He began experimenting with denim during his time as an art director in London, and despite building a successful career for big brands such as Nissan and Guinness, he decided to dedicate his full attention to his passion for the pants.
Berry explains that his pieces are accomplished “…through a material that while personal to me, is also so ubiquitous – transcending borders, race, age, social class and time. A link to my past, but also to one another. Initially drawn to the artistic possibilities offered by the deep and varied texture of the fabric, later I became fascinated by the rich heritage of Denim. A story that has run alongside that of modern history. A material that abounds in dualities and meanings. A symbol of both egalitarianism and of materialism. A reflection of the world in which we live.“
Using bleach, stencils, and glue, he takes takes several weeks to cut and stitch a piece together. His landscapes and interiors have been exhibited across the world, including a completed mural for the James Dean museum in Fairmount, Indiana. Moody, tonal, and extremely detailed, Berry’s work is is a masterful exploration of a very unusual medium.
Via My Modern Met
