Semazen — Whirling Dervish Painting

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

A serene portrait in which art, mysticism, and spirituality come together. SEMAZEN depicts a whirling dervish with closed eyes and crossed arms, capturing a moment of inner stillness just before the first turn.

The warm golden background contrasts with the silvery robe, whose flowing folds already suggest movement. The richly textured depiction of the traditional tall hat and the softly painted facial features give the portrait a quiet, tangible presence.

The inspiration for this painting grew from the music of Turkish musician Mercan Dede. His fusion of centuries-old Sufi traditions and contemporary sounds led Frank Wagtmans to explore Sufi culture more deeply. For the semazen, whirling is a form of meditation and devotion: a symbolic journey beyond the ego, towards love, unity, and a deeper connection with the divine.

Almost the entire portrait is painted in metallic acrylics. Its shimmer and subtle reflections shift with the light and the viewer’s position. Light becomes an integral part of the painting, bringing the interplay between stillness and movement to life.

SEMAZEN is part of the World Portraits series, in which Frank Wagtmans explores people, traditions, and cultures through colour, expression, and the human presence. A portrait that depicts not merely a person, but a spiritual journey.