Within one real space, within one virtual space, there will exist two. Confused? Don’t be. That’s the slogan of two-for-one exhibition titled Sajda and Black Sea by up-and-coming artists Nigel Baldacchino and Adrian Abela.

Although distinct from one another, the works are loosely bound by theme and subject as well as the space in which they will be housed

Although conceived from different perspectives, in different ways, by different people and within different scales of time, both exhibitions are sharing the same space.

Although distinct from one another, the works are loosely bound by theme and subject as well as the space in which they will be housed.

Opening in the upper galleries of St James Cavalier on Friday, the exhibition addresses a variety of art forms, namely photography, literature, video, painting, sculpture and performance.

Mr Baldacchino says the concept for Sajda was born not too long ago.

“I can still remember the date,”he said. “If I put my mind to it I could even remember the reason why it started and justify better its existence”.

The exhibition is a collection of images and texts which, since flowing from the same source, tend to share some attributes. The same content through different channels. The same air through different lungs. The same level at different tides. The same language through different tongues and the same horse through different rides.

“Sajda is the act of fishing,” he says.

Meanwhile, Mr Abela’s concept for Black Sea is a little more straightforward and derives from Malta being an island state in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, a sea used for oil extraction and as a passageway from North Africa to Europe by people seeking a better life.

“The Mediterranean has been re-baptised as the Black Sea for its oil and immigrants, both sought and seeking, each tied to the hope of and for a better financial future,” he said.

“Malta is located in the centre of this Black Sea, its territory delineated by intangible boundaries, important for the hope of oil within them, while other boundaries carry the responsibility to search and rescue immigrants found inside them.”

Sajda and Black Sea will be on show at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Castille Place, Valletta from Friday until February 26. The exhibition is being supported by the Malta Arts Fund.

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