One of the most praiseworthy initiatives, from a visual arts perspective, taken by President George Abela on assuming office was to open an exhibition space in the prestigious precinct of San Anton, with a percentage of proceeds from the sales going to the Malta Community Chest Fund.
The recently inaugurated ‘Seven by Seven’ show is a collective art exhibition of paintings by seven different painters: Alexia Coppini, Philip Chircop, Peter Day, Anna Galea, Matthew Kassar, Lawrence Pavia and James Vella Clark.
As is the case with most collective exhibitions, not everything on show is to my liking. Nor is it of equal quality. Nonetheless, one must bear in mind the commendable gesture these seven artists have taken on for such a good cause, more so knowing the very many requests for aid received by the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Generosity and diversity are two key elements this exhibition. What one experiences is a range of work varying from paintings executed in acrylic on board or on canvas, to watercolours and collage.
The same goes for subject matter that ranges from still lifes to town and country scapes, and the sea. The expression varies from the representational to the abstract, and there is also the simplification of forms (particularly architecture) for the sake of composition, and expression through colour.
There is diversity from the expressive and sombre, to compositions that are executed in hard edge and which stand out for their brightness.
Exhibits also vary from the emphatic to the minimal; from the spontaneous to the more well-planned compositions.
Therefore, you will see conventional landscapes and representations of enlarged vegetables, but also a non-conventional approach to landscapes, which is very individual and, in some cases, not devoid of charm. There is nothing that unites these artists in style, expression or subject, other than their generosity.
The title implies that there are 49 paintings on show, and these are all by Maltese artists, bar one, Peter Day.
I never talk of prices, but I will make an exception. All 49 paintings are being sold at the same standard, reasonable price, 25 per cent of the proceeds of which will go towards the Malta Community Chest Fund.
It is a laudable way to give back to society, and it is also a very good excuse to visit the lovely San Anton complex.
‘Seven by Seven’ is open at the San Anton Palace Farmhouse, Attard until next Sunday.