In an era where almost anything and everything is classified as art there are few visual artists who remain true to themselves.
If there is light within you, you see colour everywhere
Luciano Micallef is one such artist whose work has consistently portrayed the abstract idiom.
Mr Micallef had almost disappeared from the art scene. Although a highly prolific artist, he has not held a single solo exhibition in six years.
In fact, the last exhibition in Malta was his Bank of Valletta retrospective in 2006. In that same year he also showed his work in Abruzzo, Italy.
Thus, after a six-year hiatus, Mr Micallef has once again opened his purpose-built gallery in San Pawl tat-Tarġa to showcase his latest project.
Entitled Metaphors, the exhibition features a collection of glass works and paintings created over the last three years.
Since founding Gallery 5 in 1996, Mr Micallef has held regular, “themed” exhibitions, which have delved into his preoccupation and concern for expression through different mediums. The mediums he has used have included paper, wood, copper and stainless steel, among others.
Yet, the choice to use the medium of glass almost came about as a natural consequence. He describes it as the medium that epitomises the parallelisms between the artist’s life and the properties or qualities inherent of the medium.
The medium of glass thereby constitutes a metaphor and, hence, the title of this show.
Gallery 5 is the ideal setting or backdrop for Mr Micallef’s work.
Bright, white, clean and airy – plenty of natural light and natural elements at play to accentuate, highlight and exalt the vibrant colours of the paintings and glass works while reflecting the latter’s translucency.
The glass works vary in size and one particular series of smaller works includes portraits and quotes of people he admires.
One work also depicts a self-portrait with the words: “If there is light within you, you see colour everywhere.” While taking in Mr Micallef’s paintings and his glass works, this statement could not ring more true.
• Metaphors: Glassworks + Recent Paintings (2009-2012) runs at Gallery 5, F. W. Ryan Street, San Pawl Tat-Tarġa until Saturday. Open from 4 to 7 p.m. or by appointment on 21411131 or 7972 9019.