Conspiracy theory and child-like naïveté

Gallerija Libertà, at the General Workers' Union's Memorial Building in Valletta, is hosting an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Fabrizio Ellul.

After setting up his first solo exhibition of paintings at the loggia of the National Museum of Fine Arts in 2007, Mr Ellul was invited to exhibit his works at the Eschborn Museum in Germany.

The exhibition in Germany, titled The L9 Conspiracy Theory, closed at the end of last June and the majority of the drawings on show are now being exhibited for the first time in Malta together with some of the artist's new paintings.

The drawings treat a variety of contemporary subjects from which Mr Ellul draws inspiration. The paintings and drawings on display are basically visual representations of his personal views and ramblings regarding politics, religion and other events and happenings occurring after September 11, 2001.

Since his first exhibition, Mr Ellul has gone from creating chiefly abstract expressive paintings to linear figurative ones. His extensive palette has been reduced to a bare minimum, most of his works appearing to be monochrome.

Mr Ellul has also introduced a child-like naïveté in some of his drawings, where faces are often scribbled out or outlines ignored.

The sheer difference in size between Mr Ellul's drawings and paintings is somewhat striking. He also leaves his works untitled and uncaptioned, leaving the interpretation of his works entirely in the hands of viewers.

Whether small or large in dimension, his "images" cause a definite visual impact. Mr Ellul's works are provocative in nature and at other times they are whimsical and include faint touches of mockery.

The exhibition runs till September 17.

www.fabrizioellul.com