Bahattin SAYGI, a master mosaic artist, passed away in 2005 at the age of 87. He began creating his works at the age of 20. Throughout his many travels to holy sites, he collected small stones of various colors, some of which, with a yellowish tint, came directly from the “King Solomon Mines” near Jerusalem in the Holy Land. These stones allowed him to create his mosaics both on-site and at his home.

This artist built his reputation on his exceptional artistic and technical abilities in the field of mosaics. Recognized as a highly sought-after master in the Middle East, he was also a reference of his time for the restoration of mosaics in various buildings, particularly religious ones. He frequently visited Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.

An emotional and deeply inspired artist, he brought remarkable works of art to life, characterized by personal expressions through the magic of colors and forms. The religious union between humanity and the Bible is a central theme in his work, where he sought to express tenderness while preserving dignity.

Bahattin SAYGI intensely dedicated himself to creating 41 unique and authentic works of art, all entirely executed by the artist’s hand.

The quality of his work is reflected in the attention to detail and the great finesse of his mosaics, composed of small colored stones. These forty-one large canvases illustrate the key events of religious life. Of exceptional beauty, these expressive works sometimes give the impression of having been painted, as the color nuances and the precision of the details are striking. Created a century ago, these unprecedented, unique, and priceless works symbolize various representations (religious, Byzantine, or Greco-Roman) using stones gathered in Palestine, Jordan, Israel, with some coming from the King Solomon Mines in the Holy Land.

Local, national, and international newspapers have widely reported on the artist’s endeavor.