The daf percussionist/ the daft drummer

Title: The daf percussionist

Technique: Oil

Support: Wooden board

Measurements: 20 x 20 cm. Date of completion: May 2024

Price: 150 €

“The daf percussionist.” I admit that this scene captivated me. Cristiane Azem playing percussion.

The daff (or daf) is an instrument of Persian origin and characteristic of the ancient Middle East and arrived in Europe with Islamic societies.

It is also widely used in the religious tradition in the region, from the Christian era to Sufism, and is associated with being played by groups of women.

It was the Moors who introduced the daf from the Middle East to Spain and promoted it, along with other musical instruments such as the guitar.

Today, the daf lives on in the Sufi religion, whose ceremonies include chants with live instruments and men called dervishes, who use body whirling to music to connect with God.

When I painted The Daf Percussionist, I thought about that connection with the divine through the rhythm of this instrument.