Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

Mahir Siraj

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, is known for its invitation to decipher underlying meanings within its intricate craft. Hence, in my painting, the seemingly abstract composition, with its obscured forms and diffused light, mirrors the "wax" – the apparent surface – while the subtle glimmers and the implied pathways through the darkness represent the "gold" – the concealed wisdom and lessons waiting to be unearthed through careful contemplation and interpretation. The painting's atmospheric ambiguity encourages a deeper engagement, prompting the viewer to move beyond the immediate visual and seek the nuanced truths embedded within its layers, much like unravelling the intricate verses of "Wax and Gold."