‘Across the Harbour’, first solo exhibition by Carm Serracino

Light infused land and seascapes of the Maltese islands are the subject of this exhibition. Portraying largely the harbour area in general and scenes of and from Bormla in particular, the compositions are freshly executed thus adequately capturing the atmosphere. The same freshness is experienced in the paintings that are executed en plein air as well as in the studio.

Purposely lacking in detail, quick strokes – in a wet or dry brush – evoke essential traits. Trees, buildings, boats, the sea, and the human form all form part of the compositions in this collection. Serracino’s ability to contrast lighter hues and more intense ones is amply clear. These paintings adequately characterise Malta in 2023 where even the religious element such as processions feature.

A senior lecturer of Classics at the University of Malta, Carmel Serracino has dabbled in different forms of art throughout his life, including theatre, radio and TV. A very long period of inactivity in the visual arts came to an end in 2018 with the production of large mythologically-themed artworks in acrylics for the reception area of the University of Malta’s Faculty of Engineering. This was also the year when he discovered watercolour painting, a medium he has since then embraced wholeheartedly. His greatest pleasure is now going on walks in the countryside with his wife Brooke and their daughter Ilaria, and stopping at a nice spot for a light picnic and a quick watercolour plein air.