11 October 2006

Istanbul 17 Dec 88


The view over the Bosphorus from my seedy hotel on a miserable cold day, the stinking air polluted by the sulphurous coal smoke from a million chimneys. Drawn on 17 December, the anniversary of Rumi's death. In Turkey it is known as Şebi Aruz (the Wedding Night).
One of Rumi's descendants, a friend of mine, died there last Sunday after a long illness.
"Man's bodily senses are infirm, but within him dwells a mighty nature..."
-Mathnawi Book IV


Water soluble crayon and ink on Fabriano tinted paper. Home made book 22cm x 16cm. Click to enlarge.

1 comment:

Larry Eisenstein said...

A beautiful study. Bravo.