Mahir Siraj

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 12:7-9, the painting captures the raw energy and dramatic consequences of this biblical passage, translating the unseen spiritual warfare into a visceral and compelling visual experience represented through formal construction. The swirling, chaotic forms embody the celestial war between obedient and rebellious angels that are cast out as a result of their rebellion. Within this maelstrom, flashes of stark white and pale forms can be interpreted as the obedient forces battling against their opponents, depicted in a seducing blue. The overall downward thrust of the composition, culminating in a hazy, earthly-toned base, powerfully illustrates the casting out of the rebels and the climax of the final battle, the pivotal moment in the eternal battle between good and evil. A the remote top edge of the geological formation, an ephemeral cross can be seen, suggesting the merging of opposites and the resolution of internal and external conflicts.