Painting
And He Was Not
This painting is a visual tale of walking into or out of “the abyss”, in a state of awareness or ignorance, to or from an ephemeral space. Inspired by The Book of Enoch, an apocryphal book, and a canon in the Ethiopic bible that further explores... More
Painting
Battle for the Soul
The essence of this painting is rooted in the eternal battle of good and evil experienced in the psyche of an individual and the collective memory of humanity. With reference to the cataclysmic and colourful battle scenes depicted in Revelation... More
Painting
Berekhet (blessing)
In essence, this painting, with its dramatic light and abstract forms, can be viewed as a visual meditation on the enduring theme of Blessing. A blessing can be considered as the bestowal of good fortune, an expression of gratitude, or a divine... More
Painting
Milk and Honey
The main component of the process in this painting is balancing the accident and control in creating an atmospheric space that engages the eye and spirit of the viewer. In my opinion, this painting offers an antidote to the fast-paced culture of... More
Painting
Separation Liminality Reintegration
The painting titled Separation Liminality Reintegration is my reflection on the repetitive pattern of rites of passage, be it in the life experiences of individuals, societies, states, or history, in a collective sense, that manifests in three... More
Painting
Take Your Shoes Off
With an encompassing atmosphere of solitude and quiet grandeur, this painting subtly underscores the insignificance of human dominion in the face of an indifferent yet powerful nature. The monumental mountain, a timeless sentinel dominating the... More
Painting
Wax and Gold
This painting, with its layered ochre and umber tones and the subtle luminosity hinting at hidden depths, ruminates on the poetic tradition of Ethiopia known as "Wax and Gold". This tradition, through its veiled imagery, metaphors, and allegories,... More
Work by
Mahir Siraj
Drawing & Painting
“Beyond the fundamental understanding of painting as a two-dimensional visual language for expressing ideas, emotions, and aesthetic aims, the compelling question for me is the enduring motivation to...” [More]