Artist Anthony Spagnol has produced a collection of abstract paintings depicting spirituality which are currently being displayed at the Parliament Building in Valletta.

“It takes long years of assiduous practice to be able to devoid oneself of superfluous noise and reach an interior communicative silence that opens up the personal search for the sacred,” says Anthony De Giovanni, the exhibition’s curator.

Traditional religious painting consists of several layers, each of which contributes in its own way to the raison d’être of the work of art. A sacred image is the sheer artisanship and tactile skills, formal visual dynamics, the cultural baggage and visual quotes, its coherence to the general decorative scheme, the story told, but most importantly, the sacredness that emanates from its very material fabric and the visual imagery it depicts. In the din of such a busy setting, the essential sacral element of religious art is missed most often than not.

Painting for Spagnol is a spiritual experience, a ritual that starts with contemplation. A sacred theme sparks off the process, often in visual and pictorial terms. Each painting in this exhibition is an opportunity for the viewer to contemplate quietly and try to catch the sacred inherent in the image.

The public is invited to visit the exhibition, which will be open until Wednesday in the hallway of the Parliament building. Opening hours are from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and from 9am to 12pm on weekends.