Topi Wallah 2

A male head is shown in profile wearing a traditional Muslim prayer cap. This is a symbol of devotion and spirituality as well as the primary element within the painting which emphasises the simplicity and beauty of the composition.

Particularly important to Ali Kazim’s work is the depth he achieves through using watercolour pigments and a wash technique. A layer of paint is applied over an initial drawing, the paper is then placed in a shallow dish of water allowing some of the paint to lift off after which another layer of paint is added, and so the process continues until a deep, rich, textured colour remains. The painting is finished off with the finer details being applied by hand with the smallest of hand-made brushes. The prayer hat has been embossed into the paper using a carved wooden block.