Space reserved for art

Two artists, James Vella Clark and Caroline Navarro, have joined forces to create a space in which to exhibit their works, hold innovative art events and share it with other international artists.

Space - Contemporary Art, as the gallery has been named, is located in the Portomaso Shopping Complex in St Julians. Supported by Marsovin, it was officially opened on Sunday with the exhibition Sea & Land, displaying a variety of the artists' works.

"It is about two artists coming together, rather than moving alone. We are both young and passionate and we want to help and push each other, always pumping in new ideas," they said. "Space is our platform." The idea is to rotate their work, which is always going to be displayed in Space, and, eventually, extend their project to incorporate other artists. Through contacts from travels, they plan to lend their space to foreign artists - and not just painters - ranging from a Spanish fashion designer to an Indonesian, who makes puppets out of grass.

"Apart from passionate, we want to be accessible. We want people to be able to come here and discuss our art," Mr Vella Clark said.

But both artists insist that Space is not just one's standard gallery - the first in St Julians. "Really, it is not a gallery, but a space in which to explore innovative forms of art. It is about art; not so much about business. That comes later."

The idea is to hold art-related events, including workshops, on a monthly basis.

They are pleased that the people passing through Space are likely to be foreigners, rather than the same faces that normally attend exhibitions locally and are interested in art.

While Mr Vella Clark's works depict landscapes, some painted in Melbourne last year, Ms Navarro's are inspired by the Rolex Middle Sea Race and her sailing experiences overseas, particularly in Australia. Her latest venture is relief sculptures made from Plaster of Paris. "I'm moving away from flat surfaces towards three-dimensional works - that is my direction."