Lot 21: Erol Akyavas (1932-1999) Miras VIII,

Miras VIII, oil, watercolour, ink and mixed media on handmade paper, signed and dated '86 lower right, framed, 151.3 x 50.7cm (59 9/16 x 19 15/16in).

Provenance:
Private Swedish collection; acquired from the Stockholm Art Fair, Galeri Nev, 1989.

Published:
Dostoglu, Haldun and Beral Madra, Erol Akyavas: His Life and Works, Istanbul, 2000, p.206, plate 487.

Miras VIII is part of the al-Hallaj series, on the subject of the mystic Mansour Hallaj, which was of enduring fascination to Akyavas. Fragments of Arabic calligraphy form a collage effect alongside small paintings which reproduce illustrated leaves from Arabic manuscripts such as Al-Jazuli's Dala'il al-Khayrat, the famous book of prayers, depicting the Qa'ba at Mecca and other holy sites.