Asif Kapadia ('00:52:33')
- Artist: Nina Mae Fowler
- Date: 2019
- Medium: compressed charcoal and pencil on paper
- Dimensions: 11 3/8 in. x 17 1/4 in. (290 mm x 439 mm) overall
- Portrays: Asif Kapadia
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Asif Kapadia (‘00:52:33’). A tight‑knit, almost sketchy portrait that shows the director’s face in charcoal and pencil on paper. Notice how the compressed charcoal gives his cheekbones a sharp edge while the pencil adds gentle shading across the forehead—creating depth without heavy layers. The sitter sits slightly angled, head tipped as if in mid‑conversation, and you can see the subtle line of his mouth that hints at his thoughtful gaze.
The portrait was commissioned in 2019 and finished by artist Nina Mae Fowler (born 1981), who has completed nine other portraits for this collection. Asif Kapadia is best known for directing “The Warrior” (2001), shot between Rajasthan and the Himalayas, which earned him two BAFTA awards—one for the feature film and another for a documentary on Formula‑1 driver Ayrton Senna (2010). He also received a BAFTA for his documentary about Amy Winehouse in 2015.
Feel how Fowler’s precise lines capture that mix of intensity and calm, matching Kapadia’s public persona. The paper’s texture gives the charcoal a slight sheen, making each stroke feel alive. Enjoy the quiet power of this hand‑drawn moment captured on canvas of graphite and charcoal.
See it in person
Asif Kapadia ('00:52:33') is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
