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Butterfly aficionados might have trouble identifying
this species - on account of its rather unusual markings.
Closer examination of its wings reveals tiny birds soaring above
minarets while men dressed in white row down a river.
The scene is Istanbul, the painter is Hasan Kale... and the butterfly is
his canvas.
In fact, he can paint his intricate miniature masterpieces on the wings
of any taxidermied insect.
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Hasan Kale uses a variety of unusual canvases on which to paint his
miniature marvels, including taxidermied butterflies
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The 53-year-old from Turkey has here used a snail shell to create a
scene of his beloved Istanbul
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Even a plant spike can be used to illustrate his city, as shown above
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Hasan, who has been working in miniature since the 1980s, also paints on
pasta shells and seeds
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Birds soar above the minarets of Istanbul in another painstakingly
crafted piece of art
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And he has no need for a wooden board on which to mix colours - he just
uses his finger as a palette
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Among his other 'materials' are lemon peel, lumps of sugar and grains of
rice
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A painted butterfly is seen with one of the fine-precision tools of
Hasan's trade |