Adoration of the Cross, Kenneth Zammit Tabona. Right: Pastizz, Marisa Attard.

Collective art exhibitions can be difficult to comprehend, especially when they lack a unifying theme, or when the theme is loosely interpreted. This was definitely not the case at Xebgħa Nies, an exhibition of over 60 pieces of contemporary painting and sculpture by nine Maltese artists.

Some of these artists are quite well known in the local art scene, more so as illustrators and caricaturists. As the title of the exhibition suggests in Maltese, it is about people, a lot of them. The general subject is portraiture, and resolves itself in an assorted set of interesting characters. They are not portraits in the traditional sense.

There is a portrayal of a host of individuals with their most extreme characteristics overtly exaggerated. The exhibits provide a vast range of medium, technique, style and subject, and the artists are as diverse as their subjects.

It-Tewmin tal-Mużew, Mark Scicluna. Right: 5PM, Moira Zahra.

Most works are humorous and very tongue-in-cheek. It is sometimes so absurd, that it is as though what is portrayed comes from a parallel, and very warped, universe, which seems to be a very fun place to be, but one where the source of inspiration was derived from the prevalent socio-political realities. It is the artists’ power of observation and their vast imaginations that has allowed them to produce such an assorted imagery.

This randomness in Moira Zahra’s works is executed with a painterly technique that contrasts with delicately, yet quickly drawn, outlines. Her portraits are of seemingly normal individuals, who go about their everyday life quite nonchalantly – with giant insects.

It is as though what is portrayed comes from a parallel, and very warped, universe, which seems to be a very fun place to be

A similar art can be seen in Debbie Caruana Dingli’s paintings. She has done away with watercolours in this series. Instead, she is exploiting the expressionistic possibilities that oil paint can provide, making use of intense dark backgrounds, from which tormented figures emerge.

Bold brushstrokes laden with paint add to the horror of her ironic dark characters in questionable fantastical situations. Thirteen o’Clock’s figures falling from the night sky is particularly charming. Caruana Dingli is a sweet-natured woman, but not when she has a brush in her hand.

In a similar way, Mark Scicluna’s grotesque characters provide a visual imagery that gives you a lot to mull over. His illustrations hone in on local elements that are outrightly blunt or re-interpreted, and thanks to his creative powers, his works, which are small in dimensions but big in character, do not fail to astound.

Meanwhile, Saviour Baldacchino delves into the religious element, taking on martyrdom scenes, saints’ heroic moments and the Last Supper – themes that are reinterpreted as very expressive caricatures. They are eloquent, and far from the pretty picture. In fact, they sometimes verge on the macabre, but they appeal to a wide audience.

The contrasting muted palette of Steve Bonello’s Il-Poeta tan-Natura suits the miffed character who does not seem too pleased about the butterflies forming a halo, fluttering around his head. Each and every detail is minutely rendered, and an elegant line is used which in The Citadel Madonna adds to the movement of the voluptuous curves of the figure and of the landscape background.

Marisa Attard’s quirky characters executed on textured supports show her imagination at its best, and they do not fail to reach my expectations. The top heavy figures with tiny legs play tombola, eating a pastizz. Or, like the shady bunch, they have a drink at their favourite bar; or else, they fly about like in Blow! So delicate, so simple, yet full of effortless charm.

Music, art, tea, acrobats, religious processions and saints come together playfully in Kenneth Zammit Tabona’s pictorial world. His fluid technique adds to the exhibition. The sideway-glancing figures are blissfully unaware of our presence, and go about their tasks in a vividly portrayed world full of detail.

Music features again in Andrew Diacono’s unmistakable variety of figures that leave an indelible mark. His two-dimensional and wall hung pieces, like his sculptures, have so much form and depth that the figures demand your attention. His faceless figures are as vague or specific as you would like them to be.

Paul Scerri’s figurative ceramics all have a similar simple physiognomy. Each sculpture is executed with attention to detail and provides a visual commentary telling an own story about a person through his professions or activities. They are probably the wittiest and the most minimalist in concept, where the theme unfolds with a few representative symbols on the subject being commented on.

The exhibition is highly entertaining and a great showcase of unusual talent. What is disappointing are the captions and the lack of literature about the exhibition and the artists in the venue, and/or an exhibition brochure or catalogue.

Xebgħa Nies is open until March 30 in the Lower Galleries of St James Cavalier, Valletta.