Three artists have been brought together by SO Galerie in Iklin for an exhibition consisting largely of paintings. The artists are Liliana Fleri Soler, Anna Nightingale and Svetlana Dragojevic, all of whom are mature in their art and each has a very personal style.
Except for the summer vibes the artworks emit, the exhibition, in fact, does not have a theme. And yet, the exhibits blend well together in the brightly-lit space, and the exhibition provides an adequately cool escape from the scorching heat.
The three artists are very much in tune with Maltese island life and have held past exhibitions in the Maltese islands. Fleri Soler is Maltese, while the Montenegrin Svetlana Dragojevic lived in London and Malta in the past, and British artist Nightingale continues to work and live between London and Gozo.
Dragojevic’s paintings were produced in both London and Malta between 2000 and 2001. Some Maltese scenes in this exhibition are recognisable – such as Valletta and Balluta – but they are far from the typical landscape. These paintings are characterised by a flurry of activity that engulfs the entire scene. Each picture is laden with detail that may, at times, make it difficult to read the subject. But, it is also this that makes these works all that much more interesting.
The landscape and its buildings emerge from broad and confident brushstrokes and bleeding paint. They are very expressive pieces composed of a varied palette of bold and pastel colours. Drawn outlines intentionally highlight architectural features over the paint layers.
A work that stands out by Dragojevic is a painting that focuses on three pears that are surrounded by a tapestry of decorative details. All of the artist’s untitled works were executed in mixed media on panel.
Nightingale’s abstract paintings have evolved over the years. The artist’s first ever exhibition was held at the Citadel in Gozo in the early 1990s. This collection of oil on canvas paintings that were produced in the past year has been collectively titled Truly Madly Deeply.
One can tell that there is something spiritual and ethereal about these paintings
These abstract paintings present a bolder expression than that previously observed in Nightingale’s oeuvre. These pictures are executed with thick brushstrokes that form intense compositions that are often characterised by the softening of outlines between tones, or sfumato. In these interesting and flowing compositions, light plays a vital role.
One can tell that there is something spiritual and ethereal about these paintings, that were perhaps influenced by evanescent moments that have been forever captured by the artist.
Fleri Soler’s vivid imagination lent itself well to her new collection, that is primarily inspired by rocks and giants that emerged from a children’s story she has herself created and illustrated. In fact, Fleri Soler’s shapes are reminiscent of nature in general and pebbles and rocks in particular. What Fleri Soler has created are sometimes abstract, imaginary works where colour and forms take centre stage.
This collection has been in the making for the past four years or so. These mixed media works on canvas and panel were executed with bright and block colours that are often enlivened by black outlines providing the said forms with more solidity and presence.
Her imagination shines through, especially when these recognisable shapes take on other forms, such as figures and feet. Further, enhancing the theme and inspiration from nature is a rough ground layer that was applied as a preparatory layer before the paint was received.
All of the works in the gallery were left untitled, even though some of these same works were individually titled by the artists themselves. Titles would have, perhaps, interfered with a consistent reading of the works as a whole.
The exhibition was methodically curated with the works by the three artists being interspersed in the contemporary art space, complementing each other through their palettes, strength of execution and compositions. Whatever the curator’s raison d’être for bringing these three artists together, the exhibition worked in more ways than one.
The exhibition is open at SO Galerie in Iklin.