MARA brings 15 artists together through empowerment, self reflection and a pinch of humour
The collective showcase and exhibition launched in March hosts 15 female artists, ranging from upcoming, mid-career, and established. Coming now to its final week we wanted to dive deeper into why and how the works and artists in this collective came together, bringing together different ,yet united perspectives on the aspects of femininity each reflecting oneself and their surroundings.
The works displayed at MARA have been brought together through two terminologies that are not entirely contradicting each other; Empowerment and Fragility. Instead, most of the time, they reflect an inner conflict. As women we must embrace and cherish our differences and the experiences that make us who we are. The artists highlight these elements using different perspectives; the female body, state of personal acceptance, experiences, motherhood, upbringing, and lasting memories. One particular work, ‘Descent’ by upcoming artist Michela Grech, embraces how her sister and herself have been raised as strong women by their late father. It is a personal yet open thematic to which the 15 artists have related very differently. Each relates to their personal experience or state of being and how they define themselves within this context.
The theme has been interpreted through a personal approach, reflecting the artists’ identity as women, embracing womanhood through different perspectives that ultimately tie it with the narrative and context. Amongst them, the work ‘Incandescence ‘ by established artist Anna Grima, depicts women’s intuitive impulse, through lyrical Abstraction.’The Green Chair’ by upcoming artist Jade Zammit ,returning to the female form, which is a recurring element in her work, the artist shares a moment of intimacy as she sits across from her sister to document her final days of pregnancy. Whilst many relish in this transformative period of their lives, the discomfort of the subject with her own heavy nakedness becomes evident in her shielding stance. Zammit has taken this as an opportunity for dialogue, exploring the contrasting duality of vulnerability and empowerment that comes along with the inevitable changes throughout womanhood.
Some works reflect oneself, such as ‘Switch off’ by Anna Calleja, a self-reflection of herself on her bed, almost in dialogue with herself using getures and fine details that portray internal conflicts within a safe place. Another element reflected through the exhibition is physical empowerment with the works ‘Lady in the bath’ by Jeni Caruana and ‘Reject or Embrace?’ by Charlene Galea; this work is a photographic performance, highlighting her change in perception of her physical appearance and how this has changed through the years when seeing the strength in her mother after she had to go through an operation.
Work by Abigail Agius, Photo Credits @VE L LA
The exhibition brings in a pinch of humor; Francesca Balzan’s sculptures portray six funny male characters with different facial expressions placed on steps looking out the window onto the street. Each sculpture represents a male figure who reveals through extreme facial expressions a moment in his inner life. Almost quoting these figures with women, showing their vulnerabilities and their unguarded feelings that we are normally more attuned to seeing expressed by women in art.
The showcase/exhibition also served as a space of collaboration and interaction between the artists themselves whereby they shared their experiences, processes, and reflections which each other through a meet the artist event.
Photo Credits @VE L LA
MARA – at Bureau Valletta Curated by Marie Gallery 5. On till the 21st of April 2022.
Featuring: Anna Calleja, Anna Grima, Michela Grech, Andrea Tachelete, Seda Ergutrul Williams, Francesca Balzan, Emma Fsadni, Abigail Agius, Charlene Galea, Jade Zammit, Katrina Diacono, Jeni Caruana , Tina Mifsud and Paola Blanco.
The space is not open to the public, to visit kindly book a viewing at [email protected]
All works are available online. Visit the online store here.
MARIE GALLERY 5 X BUREAU
The Iniala Bureau is a new concept and space for its members to benefit from a variety of social events, opportunities, and services. Art is one of the drivers of these events and services, together with Marie Gallery5 and curator Maria Galea the Bureau shall be hosting a variety of art events and opportunities for its members and public in general.
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