When Ronnie Muscat started his photographic career, he was a mere 15-year-old. More than 50 years down the line, he’s still passionate about photography. Little did he expect, however, that his two sons would pick up this passion so fiercely, particularly since he had always pushed them through more formal academic routes.
While Carlo and Sergio practically discovered photography independently, having a photographer in their life must have influenced them, somewhat. Discover photography they did, however – and it was a shocking realisation for both. The eloquence of the photographic medium drew them further into the art, until it became part of their life. Photography provided a tool to achieve control over the otherwise uncontrollable – time, space, reality.
They turned to their father, who, realising their potential, guided them through the teething phases, while allowing them to evolve on their own accord, taking directions which most suited their characters and skills.
Spurred by his sons’ endeavours, Ronnie was propelled into an all new evolutionary process... Embracing new technologies, he delved into a world of experimentation. Through his love of the classical arts and inspiration from his Maltese surroundings, he patiently and meticulously concocts dreamscapes from his own selected photographs. The work goes beyond traditional photography, and rather floats somewhere between the realms of art and design.
Carlo’s work, on the other hand, is pure, hard design. A trainee architect by profession, he is inspired by the interaction of the built environment with nature and man. His sharp observation skills allow him to create work which seems to take full control of line, light and shadow. In their abstraction, these elements become compositional tools – the photographer’s keen eye taken to an extreme.
Perhaps the most conceptual approach of the three is that belonging to Ronnie’s elder son, Sergio. Through the years he has placed great focus on photography, particularly as a form of artistic expression. This exhibition marks a drastic change from the more rigorous black and white work which has insofar characterised his style. The set being presented is one which represents his fondness for nature, often in a very simple and tongue-in-cheek manner. It is a play – almost a tug-of-war – with the very things that photography tends to control.
This exhibition brings the three artists’ work onto one and the same platform – side by side for the first time. The results can be surprising, for while common traits remain visible throughout their work, it is clear that each artist’s personal evolution and interpretation of the medium took drastically different directions in an endless loop of cross-pollination. It is the ultimate “virtuous circle”, where each artist develops an ever-evolving, unique identity, while inspiring the other during their process. It is the ultimate confrontation of nature versus nurture.
The exhibition at Auberge d’Italie runs till November 11. More information may be found on www.inheritancexhibition com.