An artist's evolution explained

Celebrated artist Luciano Micallef abandoned figurative painting in 1985 and took up abstract painting because he was convinced that, "like life itself, the most significant experiences are not tangible but abstract," he said at a recent public presentation on his works.

Paintings of his spanning three decades are being exhibited at Bank of Valletta's 15th Retrospective Exhibition at the bank's Centre in Sta Venera. An audience of art lovers and enthusiasts heard from the artist how his work developed over the years.

"The works being exhibited all belong to significant exhibitions, starting from the first one of 1974, to the last one of 2005, covering a period of 32 years," he said.

"Despite the eclectic concerns for different media and subject matter there is always a common factor that binds the entire collection of works. There are several important relations between a batch of works done during a period and its relation with a much later period.

"For instance, it is interesting to note that the works that belong to the first show of 1974, representing mainly portraiture, already reveal my interest to interpret the face as well as to find a different way of representing the subject." The artist's first exhibition consisted of a series of portraits that were not realistically treated but fragmented and full of colour, with minor distortions to add to the intensity. He believes the purpose for doing art is man and it should deal primarily with the being.

Landscape has never been a particular concern of his. The abstract signs dominated his compositions from 1980 onwards as he moved towards an abstract approach to painting.

Mr Micallef believes that "painting is not about making pictures to distract; on the contrary it is about creating further awareness and about revealing an experience that is not immediately apparent".

Painting provokes dialogue with the viewer and binds people in conversation, he said.

The BOV Retrospective exhibition is open to the public until August 11.