Local circus I 2007

These works — Local circus I and Local circus III — focus on young male circus performers poised against black and red backgrounds. Ali Kazim’s sombre and brooding palette emphasises the apparent serenity of the enigmatic, erotic figures, as they hold their extraordinary poses. Kazim’s technique is highly distinctive; it involves building up dozens of layers of powder pigments on wasli paper to create a tactile surface unusual for watercolour. This gives a textural effect that adds weight and density to his images, while contributing to the mysterious allure of his figures.