Abstraction in two forms

A child's meticulous obsession to go over a pattern with a needle and thread has resulted in an artistic career handcrafting silver into miniature filigree pieces.

"I was always fascinated by the delicacy of crafting filigree. When I was a boy my father used to take me to his friend's workshopsometimes to watch him creating pieces out of silver wire - I was hooked," Kevin Attard said.

Positioning his intricately twisted collection alongside the oil paintings of Michel Falzon at the China Cultural Centre in Valletta, Mr Attard is hoping the joint exhibition, which opened this week, will help change the present perceptions attached to filigree. "The first thing that comes to people's minds when you mention filigree is that Maltese cross. These pieces symbolise something I've always wanted to do and I hope people will see this art from a different perspective," he said.

The exhibition, which runs until December 22, displays 25 pieces by each artist under the title Astratt u Astratt.

Mr Attard, 32, has known Mr Falzon, in his early 50s, from the days when they were neighbours and he used to play with his children.

Having moved out from his parents' home the two hadn't seen each other for about 13 years, but last year circumstances brought them together and they struck a friendship.

"When I was younger I always saw Michael as my parents' friend but suddenly I started seeing him through new eyes. We started meeting often and a year ago we decided to set up a joint exhibition," Mr Attard said.

The works, though of a completely different genre, complement one another in their beauty, simplicity and sleek, linear effect.

The two believe there are two forms of abstract art, the one that comes through instinct and the other that requires thought, discipline and academic influence - they chose the latter.

"Abstract art gives you a greater liberty to work, but it's also a challenge to bring out something beautiful, that people can appreciate. People tend to prefer art they understand and are more inclined to invest in works that are not abstract," he said.

Mr Attard can spend up to 10 hours fiddling with silver wire to create his design. Since he doesn't sketch what he has in mind, modifying the material as he goes along, the risk of wasting the expensive material is greater.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. and 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. The exhibition will move to the Gozo Ministry on January 7.