The first time I encountered the work of visual artist Ritty Tacsum was over a decade ago – for another interview, as it were, fresh after an exhibition displaying her surrealist Maltese landscapes using the double exposure technique (where two or more images are combined into a single photograph, creating a layered, almost bizarre effect).
Valletta buildings and skylines superimposed on each other created evocative and haunting images that, more than 10 years later, still leave a lasting impact.
“I still use double exposure techniques, though much less than before. My work has shifted more towards digital, but recently I’ve found myself revisiting those concepts, this time blending them with technology,” Ritty tells Design Dispatch.
“While I may not layer photographs in the traditional sense as much as I used to, I still love working with layers, only now, they could be videos, 3D scans, textures, symbols, or icons. Fourteen years later, my approach has evolved, but the essence of layering and merging different elements remains central to my creative process.”
Since then, Ritty has exhibited her work in New York, Paris, and Taipei, exposing her to new creative communities and expanding both her network and perspective on artistic storytelling. Locally, collaborations with boutique hotels such as Iniala and Casa Ellul opened a window into more immersive and experiential design by exploring the relationship between art and space.
An exhibition on confessions
Ritty’s capacity for pushing visual art beyond boundaries was no more evident than in her most recent solo exhibition, Disclosure, held last year at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta.
The result of a community collaboration, her final images were based on contributions from individuals who shared their deepest thoughts and desires through an anonymous online platform. The chosen confessions were turned into meticulously arranged scenes, resembling cinematic stills – a powerful collection of visual art pieces that appeal to a sense of collective consciousness. For Ritty, the community angle was central to the project.
“I wanted to step away from the typical solo creative process. As artists, we often work in isolation, and I wanted to challenge that by inviting others to contribute and feel part of the project,” she explains.
“It was my first time opening up my work to public participation in this way; I’ve collaborated with other artists before, but never directly with the public. The experience was eye-opening, and it’s definitely something I’d consider doing again.”
She describes the process of translating confessions into final images as an intuitive one. “I selected confessions that resonated with me in some way, either because they were deeply personal or because they carried a certain universal truth.”
“The ones I chose allowed me to create a visual narrative that felt both personal and collective. It was a balance between honouring the anonymity of the submissions while still making something visually compelling,” she notes.
Exploring new ground
Alongside photography and visual art, Ritty also channels her creative energy into Bored Peach Club, a community-driven project within Von Peach, co-founded by Yentl Spiteri and Emma Calleja.
The Gozo-based space, which hosts artists in residency, seeks to bring together people of the same mindset, connecting likeminded individuals through art and experiences.
“Bored Peach Club is one of those ideas that started small but quickly snowballed into something bigger,” says Ritty. “Working with Von Peach has been a dream because it’s a space where creative ideas aren’t just discussed; they’re nurtured, expanded, and turned into real opportunities. The name is a natural extension of Von Peach, much like Impeached, keeping that same playful and rebellious energy alive.”
The initiative is all about creating connections and opportunities for artists, she explains – where creatives can collaborate, share ideas, and develop their work within a supportive community.
“The goal is to provide a platform where projects can grow, new collaborations can form, and artists feel encouraged to experiment and push their practice further. This year, we’ve been expanding these opportunities, building more connections, offering more resources, and creating spaces where creativity can thrive.”
Creative story-telling is at the heart of every project Ritty pursues – told in a way that is uniquely hers, with a power to produce compelling visuals that linger in the mind long after you’ve seen them. And while she’s not sure where she’s heading next, there’s little doubt the element of surprise will loom large.
“Right now, I’m in a phase of exploration, merging old techniques with new tools, and I’m not entirely sure where it will lead me. After 14 years, I felt like it’s time to move beyond the formats I’ve been working with and step into something different,” says Ritty. “As for my next solo exhibition, the format is still a question mark, but there will definitely be something new on the horizon.”
Photography by Ritty Tacsum
