Ongoing Pieta Exhibition Redirects Pandemic Perspective Through Art
On Friday the 3rd of December, an inauguration was held in the atrium at Malta Enterprise, Pieta. A grand celebration of the collective exhibition Pandemic Survival, Art and New Action, in which a total of forty-four artists’ works were brought to light. The exhibition opening was certainly a success, with curator Pamela Baldacchino working alongside Malta Enterprise’s Head of EU Affairs, Josephine Vassallo Parnis. The two women’s partnership, with a driving passion for the arts, ensued a competent, thematic message to the public. An intentional endeavour where visitors can mentally flee from their realities and succumb to the large gallery space.
“The theme for this collective exhibition is Pandemic: Survival, Art and New Action.” Pamela Baldacchino tells ARTZ ID. “Artists were invited to show artworks that deal with the human processes they are going through during this period. Survival, because it is what we are doing in the face of the global threat we are encountering even on an intimately human level, and New Action because this pushes us to adapt to challenges through the need for a new vision.” she affirms.
The issue of the pandemic has been amongst us for almost two years now. No doubt, the situation has proven that often, it can feel as if we’re falling down a rabbit hole. Covid-19 can seem almost impossible to get away from. Yet, once entering the space at Malta Enterprise, the works within Pandemic, ironically bring us to forget, re-direct and reflect. The works inherently speak the universal language of contemporary art- a language that was once known to us before the virus.
As soon as I set foot into the edifice at Malta Enterprise, a vibrant, cheerful energy took over my body. The overwhelming number of works did not suggest a sense of fear or claustrophobia but rather, it hinted at the production of hard-working artists. Those who like anyone, were faced with two years of uncertainty. Once you skim through the space, you will notice an incredible variety of visual processes from paintings to digital art, sculpture works to artistic prints.
Apart from the traditional set-up that one finds at any gallery or art space, Baldacchino and Vassallo Parnis include an additional feature at the central foyer of the room— a towering wall can be seen, made in its entirety of travertine blocks. Between every block, stacked one on top of the other, there are gaps that may cleverly indicate a need for light. In a literal sense, light floods naturally onto the wall during the daytime. Positioned exactly in front of the wall, some on panel boards and others not, are a few works by some of our favourite local artists. Signature styles embrace the space from Roderick Camilleri’s etching prints, Vince Briffa’s mixed media abstract works to Gabriel Buttigieg’s large-scaled figurative paintings. All works in the utilized space complement one another, however the subject matters diverge. Thematically, they are bounded. Bounded by a civilization going through an identical state-of-affairs.
A part of the sales that are made from the selling of work at the current show will afterwards be donated to the University of Malta Research Trust Fund. Make sure to jot this event down in your calendars and give Malta Enterprise a visit before it ends on 22nd of December!
The exhibition is free and open to the public until the 22nd of December 2021. Opening Hours are: Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 19:00 at Malta Enterprise, G’Mangia Hill, Pieta.
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