From Gabriel Buttigieg’s largest solo exhibition to date, to a pop-culture inspired collection by SJ Fuerst, these events are ones to note.
Gimme Some Sugar – SJ Fuerst
SJ Fuerst, an American artist based in Gozo, combines classical figurative techniques with pop culture references in her work that’s often bursting with colour and insinuations. For her latest exhibition ‘Gimme Some Sugar’, currently on display at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta, she used models and inflatables to create photo-realistic paintings that “celebrate candy’s presence in pop culture… The paintings are bright, humorous, and seductive, what better way to represent society’s love affair with sugar?” Until 23rd May.
FabricaATE – Gabriel Buttigieg
In his latest exhibition, FabricATE, multimedia artist Gabriel Buttigieg creates new stories out of “historical, fantastical and biblical” myths using various media, including large-scale paintings and sculptures. In her curatorial brief, Lisa Gwen describes the exhibition, being held at Spazzju Kreattiv, as one rooted in “narratives [that] are at once dark and exhilarating. Each one presenting itself in the guise of a metaphor for the moral, erotic and spiritual questions that have beset humans since the dawn of time.” Until 23rd June.
In Between the Seam – Stefan Spiteri
On display at Camilleriparismode in Rabat is Stefan Spiteri’s latest exhibition, ‘In between the seam’, which invites guests to discover his unique artistic process that weaves sewing into his paintings. The exhibition pays tribute to designs created by his mother – herself a seasoned self-taught seamstress – that inspired his own work, and which explores “the space where two pieces of fabric are joined together to form a singular unity.” Until 25th May.
Curious Beauty: An Alternative Costume Exhibition
Within the walls of the medieval Palazzo Falson townhouse in Mdina is ‘Curious Beauty: An Alternative Costume Exhibition’ that celebrates the beauty of fashion from bygone eras, spanning from the 18th century to the 1960s. Corsets, dresses, gloves and even spectacles are presented in lively installations, under the artistic direction of Caroline Tonna and Francesca Balzan, in a way that brings together antiques and contemporary art in a beautiful and historical setting. Until 16th June.
Tmermir – Matthew Joseph Casha
Architect and multi-disciplinary artist Matthew Joseph Casha delves into the subjects of impermanence and transience in his solo exhibition ‘Tmermir’, currently on display at Rudy Buhler Art Gallery in Marsascala. In the artist’s words, “this work is a reflective collection that confronts the paradox of impermanence – how within the inevitability of decay lies the seed of renewal, and in the passage of time, we find the essence of growth and transformation.” Until 16th June.
Whimsical Inquiries: A Visual Exploration of Curiosity
In this collective exhibition of 12 artists from diverse artistic backgrounds, exploring curiosity is the common theme that strings their individual interpretations and artistic expressions together. From Elisa von Brockdorff’s vibrant photographs to Trevor Diacono’s peculiar sculptures and Ruslana Grima’s facial drawings, each piece currently on display at ChristineX Art Gallery in Sliema seeks to ignite a sense of childlike curiosity within a space where “questions are hailed as noble companions to answers”. Until 31st May.
Main photo: Malta Society of Arts
