Today will see the opening of a new path in the artistic expression of John Busuttil Leaver who unveils his 14th solo exhibition, entitled A Diary Of Obsessions, at the main hall of St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta.
The exhibition is curated by Louis Laganà, a lecturer in history of art at the University of Malta, who observes in the exhibition catalogue how the art of Mr Busuttil Leaver evolved and changed dramatically during these last few years.
The artist's past two shows were smaller and focused on a particular colour, hence blu and green, both held at VeeGeeBee Art Gallery.
In A Diary Of Obsessions one finds an explosion of ideas and colours. A wide set of themes are present, covering the urban and rural, semi-abstract and layering of multiple canvases for a sculptural three-dimensional effect.
Dr Laganà notes that, from painting on flat surfaces, the artist explored other possibilities of painting beyond the frame and the two-dimensional. For the artist the frame is a symbol of restriction and limitation.
The works on show demonstrate proven intersections between the pictorial and the sculptural.
They are the result of the drawing diaries he kept during the years, obsessively documenting his thoughts and aesthetic impulses, Dr Laganà said.
He described Mr Busuttil Leaver as a visual realist, adding that, although thematically he is still attached to what surrounds us, the environment, and heritage, it seems he is moving towards another direction, that of letting the unconscious determine the subject matter and the process of his creations. "Each work in this series reflects the powerful emotional experiences of the artist.
They are also a mirror of our obsessions and fears, of our past, present and future dramas," Dr Laganà says.
This is Mr Busuttil Leaver's first exhibition at the St James Arts Centre and is sponsored by Marsovin and Bank of Valletta. It runs until December 7.
More Information can be found at www.geocities.com/johnobsessions or at www.sjcav.org or by phoning 7941 0972. The exhibition catalogue is available for download or printing at www.lulu.com/content/3678193.