“A Summer Wander is a nostalgic reminder to safeguard what we still have.” This claim by Studio 87, an independent art gallery and conservation studio in Valletta, is backed by its own support for artist Florence Champ, who completed an art residency in Malta with Studio 87 this summer and channelled her exploration of the islands into paintings that strike a deeply nostalgic chord.
In one painting, Florence captures the exterior of Miceli Store, a corner ironmongery in St Lucy Street that’s been in business since the 1970s, along with the chaotic charm of its many wares displayed on the pavement.
In another, she celebrates the majesty of St John’s Co-Cathedral from an unexpected angle, offering intimate glimpses of places seen through a fresh perspective.
“Florence is curious by her surroundings, and this collection breathes life into the mundane, tapping into our collective memory as Maltese, even though she experienced it as an outsider looking in,” notes Studio 87.
“It often takes an outsider to truly appreciate the hidden gems a place holds. From the charming shop fronts and signs that adorn the city, some of which are rundown with patinated wooden ‘vetrini’ and iconic vibrant typography, through to iconic haunts like Gleneagles Bar in Gozo – the details that make Valletta, and Malta more broadly, so distinctly itself.”
These unique features are rapidly fading from the urban fabric, the result of a rise in gentrification and overdevelopment, but an artist’s fresh perspective could bring such hidden gems back into full view.
The exhibition, curated by Justine Balzan Demajo and on display at Studio 87 from 18th September to 2nd October, presents distinctly Maltese scenes in Florence’s signature Provençal style. Oscillating between Provence and Lisbon, Florence grew up in the South of France and has its warmth infused in her work.
In her studio in Lisbon, there is a profusion of local scenes as well as French delights – mirroring her depictions of daily life that honour places and crafts falling into oblivion.
Florence trained for two years in painting and drawing in Florence, Italy before completing a trimester at the Royal Drawing School in London. She has recently gained recognition winning the BTA first prize, selected for the Jacksons longlist and featured in both Faire and SLIMI magazines.
Photography by Florence Champ
