Nghaddu z-Zmien
In this joint exhibition by designer and illustrator Ed Dingli and artist Patarra, the two interpret the culture and countries where they’re currently based – A Portuguese artist living in Malta (Patarra) and a Maltese artist living in Portugal (Ed Dingli) – using their respective media, on display at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta. At the heart of the exhibition, curated by Andrew Borg Wirth, is a journey of two foreigners in new lands in search of common ground to give them a sense of home. “As both countries face a wave of homogenisation in the wake of globalisation, we explore the everyday nuances of quotidian culture which give a country and a people their identity, and try to find our place within it all.” Until 18 July.
Disclosure
In 2020, photographer and multimedia artist Ritty Tacsum created a safe digital space where people could freely express their personal confessions and desires; the results of which formed the foundation of her upcoming exhibition ‘Disclosure’ at the Malta Society of Arts, curated by Lisa Gwen. A selection of confessions were transformed into final ‘tableaux’, ultimately creating a community collaboration which thrived on the participation of others, resulting in “a powerful and moving collection of visual art pieces that reflect the collective consciousness.” From 25 July-14 August.
Revixit
Contemporary artist and sculptor Jo Dounis has swapped her signature style of fluid and textured art for an unexpected collection of sculptures, on display at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba, made from salvaged wood and mixed media. For her exhibition Revixit, curated by Melanie Erixon, each piece of wood is transformed into a sculptural piece, giving new life to what was abandoned or set to be destroyed, at times using crystals, minerals and other materials to enhance the beauty and individuality of each piece. Until 7th July.
Marginalia
From Malta to London and now, Brussels, multimedia artist Vince Briffa will be exhibiting a collection of paintings and works on paper at the Gallery of Katarzyna Napiorkowska in Brussels. The travelling exhibition, Marginalia, revolves around the concept that Briffa’s work is, by his own admission, an ongoing book, “where each work, like a mark, a note or a thought made in its margins, adds a new layer of reflection and meaning to the organic and entwining flow of the narrative of the main text.” From 5th July.
The Maltese Bride
During the last month of this Heritage Malta exhibition being held at the Inquisitor’s Palace – National Museum of Ethnography in Birgu, visitors can get up close to a collection of Maltese wedding dresses dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. The dresses on display from the national textiles collection include a silk lamè handmade wedding dress from the first half of the 19th century, and a 1979 creation, complete with a hooded cape, designed and sewn by the bride and her mother, which was re-worn by the bride’s daughter on her own wedding day 22 years later. Until 31st July.
For the Love of Art
A collective exhibition organised by The Bored Peach Club – a Gozo-based community space for artists – celebrates the Maltese islands through the work of photographers Marija Grech and Sarah Scicluna, and illustrators Glenn Ellul and Daphne Bugeja. The exhibition, titled For the Love of Art, highlights each artist’s unique perspective and creative style, expressing culture and tradition through visual arts. The exhibition is being held at Radisson Blu in St Julian’s. Until 31st July.
Main photo: Patarra & Ed Dingli photographed by David Zammit
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