Lisa Gwen Baldacchino
Times of Malta 13.04.09
After saying Thank You For The Music – yes, countless times despite last week’s review – my thanks are now directed to Pierre Portelli, an artist whom I follow keenly and also a curator for whom I would gladly take my hat off.
After the official opening of No. 68 St Lucy Street, at the end of last October, inaugurated with Alexandra Pace’s Redprints exhibition, I was concerned about the space and what it would eventually be used for, if at all. There was talk and speculation about it being turned into an art gallery, but nothing was definite and it seemed a pity that such a space would go to “waste”. For a few months nothing much was heard until a call for expressions of interest was issued for artists to submit works of any medium, and having particular dimensions as their sole restriction and specification.
This was the concept behind Square, a simple yet impressively effective exhibition curated by Mr Portelli. The notion struck a familiar note, as it was roughly on the same lines as the Mille Artisti a Palazzo exhibition, a huge contemporary art expo which was on view at Palazzo Borromeo in Cesano Maderno, Italy till April 13. The works for this show had a 20cm by 20cm specification however, and were placed on totem-like cuboid pilasters – but enough said, it just definitely deserves to be googled.
I happily learnt that although a total of 58 artists applied to have their works in exhibited in Square, only 42 were accepted. This shows that perhaps, in some cases, we are moving in the right direction, that collective exhibitions can be a success without the final product looking like a hotchpotch art bazaar. Quality and standards are still lacking when it comes to Maltese art, yet once in a while an exhibition such as this helps to raise the bar.
Although the recession is here, and the credit crunch is definitely pinching at many a pocket, at the Square opening, people were buying art like they were figolli. Yes, it was that good! Perhaps Mr Portelli has found the key ingredients? Stick to small works, 25cm by 25 cm… how much can a work of those dims cost? If I recall well the most expensive one was €870. Also the dimensions of the work are a definite plus when it comes to space and hanging. On a couple of occasions a three by three pattern was formed with the works, this was very gratifying to the eye, and further enhanced the square notion, it was however a tad confusing to associate the work to a given artist when in such close proximity.
Some of the works were such fun to look at... as usual Mr Portelli did not fail to “live up to his rep” (he knows what I’m talking about), but I was also happy to see some new names, as well as some familiar ones who defeated my expectations! Derek Fenech’s three works for example, not the usual run of the mill, all sold on opening night. Laurent Muller surprised me with his metallic/glittered takes on an ultimately sepulchral theme. Lewis Zammit’s works were a far cry from anything he exhibited in his last one-man show; and younger artists such as Jimmy Grima, Karen Caruana, Alberto Favaro and Adrian Abela made a welcome reappearance.
It’s a shame that the exhibition was only open to the public for a couple of weeks, especially when considering that inferior exhibitions often drag on and on. So... when’s the next?
