Paul Haber (b. 1940) is one of Malta’s leading ceramists, and after the sad and premature demise of Neville Ferry earlier this year, arguably the most intellectually oriented and artistically gifted one.

He is also one of our benchmark artists, and the fact that he has not received the honours that are his due are to an extent the result of his self-effacing character. His intimacy with the medium is outstanding. This alone merits him recognition and acclaim.

It is therefore most fitting that Bank of Valletta has dedicated its 20th retrospective exhibition to him. And what an outstanding exhibition it is. It is a festive celebration of a long and illustrious career spanning 50 years. Do not miss the exhibition; it is one to remember and write home about.

The earliest exhibit, dating to 1961, already shows that meticulous attention to detail that is the essential hallmark of Haber’s art. And a similar fastidiousness is visible also throughout the exhibition. The exhibits are clearly presented, and captions helpfully informative, displaying title, medium, dimensions, signature, date, place of execution and present location.

With Haber one gets a real feel of what it is like to be in the midst of nature, and this is also alluded to by the medium used. Clay is the noblest of natural objects man has from time immemorial identified himself with.

Each ceramic sculpture, despite it being an abstract form, is highly reminiscent and evocative of the natural world that is constantly being tarnished by man. Haber is sensitive to the sad rape of nature that is taking place all around us.

He is in his own idiosyncratic way recording nature, albeit not in a realist way. His is a language that is timeless and will transcend generations.

Indeed, Haber is featured at his beloved Mtaħleb retreat in one of the photographs in the exhibition catalogue – a sheer piece of heaven on earth where he can isolate himself from the urban world. He is also very fond of underwater life and is as comfortable at sea as he is on land.

Both the natural terrain and sea creatures resonate constantly in Haber’s ceramics, and one can safely say that these are his main sources of inspiration. And his choice of colours are more often than not a clear reflection of this.

Nonetheless, the impinging power of his imagination has a lot to do with the end result, for this is how he manages to create the abstract forms we are so accustomed to see.

Despite the similar inspiration, the vision he had for each of his pieces resulted in the production of a unique piece every time.

You will see for yourselves how the exhibits each display a different aesthetic. I find Judge Giovanni Bonello’s words describing Haber’s sculptures as “shapes of his thoughts” so apt.

The manner in which the exhibition has been planned allows everyone to appreciate the artist’s development, reaching works produced only in recent months and of impressive dimensions, sometimes reaching two metres in height.

I enjoy sculpture exhibitions because you can really feel the spirit of the artist in a work’s production, and feel the artist’s hand at work.

Whether wall-hung or freestanding, Haber’s ceramics all enjoy the spirit of a kindled heart.

The exhibition is an aesthetic treat – an uplifting of the spirit. Well-treated is really what I felt when viewing this exhibition. And as a retrospective should be, it really does encompass the whole of Haber’s artistic career.

As readers may have come to know, I give praise where praise is deserved. I judge artists based on the exhibition of works that I am (and the Maltese public are) given to see, not by the works they have in their studios or in private collections. And I am not easily impressed by fancy CVs and biographies. If one is to exhibit one’s work, they are to expect to be criticised. After all, art criticism (as the word implies) is not artistic hagiography.

But then again, Haber’s list of exhibitions and bibliography is impressive. His is the fruit of hard work, and the result is good art.

Haber is the first Maltese artist to have obtained a BA (Hons) degree in ceramics, an art where technique is all-important. And in spite all of his credentials, he is a humble man with a good sense of humour who has to be asked to speak about his work.

This is a well-deserved and inspiring exhibition.

‘Paul Haber – a Bank of Valletta Retrospective exhibition’ is being held at the BoV head office, St Venera, until July 21.