Curated by Raphael Vella and produced in collaboration with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ The fourth edition of Divergent Thinkers brings together several emerging Maltese artists who have produced new work revolving around this year’s chosen theme, ‘Connect’. This year’s edition focuses on collaborations, networks, and relations – that is, on situations that involve artists working or interacting with other people. Divergent Thinkers is an innovative collective exhibition about the brainstorming mental processes involved in the creation of works of art. In other words, it is seeks contemporary artistic […]
A Dining Room by Umberto Buttigieg and Maxine Attard Never eat a snack alone. Before you eat or drink anything consider carefully who you eat or drink with rather than what you eat or drink. The feeding without a friend is the life of a lion or a wolf. – Alain De Botton (‘Epicurus on Happiness – Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness) A Dining Room takes the sense of alienation and lack of communication of contemporary society as facts and […]
‘Transmitted Data’ by Martina Galea First image: ‘A’, thread on paper, 17.5 x 23.2cm Second image: ‘C’, thread on paper, 18.2 x 23.1cm Third image: ‘K’, thread on paper, 23.1 x 18.3cm Essentially, Galea’s work explored the documentation of happenings, where countries are connected according to their recent occurrences, occurrences selected as a result of their repeated portrayal in international media headlines. In these specific mappings, each event is associated with a selected letter, such as the letter ‘E’ or ‘K’ – a reference […]
‘Consuming Connections’ by Ryan Falzon First image: Golden Boy and His Junk, mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150cm Second image: The Communicator (Alter Ego), mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150cm The rise of technology and its introduction, without any assessment of consequences, has changed interaction between humans from the core. The consumption of connections through social networks is proving to be as addictive and fulfilling as junk food, where the elements of cheap thrills and immediate fulfilment are highly sought […]
Losing Ground by Moira Agius This work deals with the meaning of freedom as a concept that varies widely across cultures. Unlike other states of being that embrace unity, freedom has an element of estrangement that can exclude engagement with others. For an immigrant, this freedom might actually be synonymous with a new beginning in countries that seem to promote this notion in a liberal way. The artist explores themes of contamination and border crossing, rather than purification of social […]
Social Kitchen by Matthew Schembri Mixed media and installation are the means by which Matthew Schembri explores and develops his ideas into artistic creations. Social Kitchen is a case in point, where screenshots from various social networks were selected, printed and wrapped around cooking-related utensils and furniture. Thus, the viewers are presented with an essential household room, all covered with a medium that they, as contemporary individuals, have initially created – a creation whose existence is impossible without people’s online […]
Divergent Thinkers has become one of the main events for emerging artists in the Maltese cultural calendar. Conceived by its curator Raphael Vella in 2011, Divergent Thinkers aims to place an emphasis on the brainstorming processes that are typical of artists during the creative stages of artistic production. The exhibition presents contemporary artistic practices by young Maltese artists that explore divergent thinking, which is generally defined as a creative process through which one investigates various possible solutions to a problem. […]
Maria Borg represents personal belongings and childhood memories in a series of paintings that evoke a sense of nostalgia and absence.
Julian Mallia presents a number of meticulous drawings that radically transform commonplace objects.
Adrian Abela explores a complex relationship between the ideas of architect Adolf Loos on ornamentation and the art of tattooing. Media: Single Channel Projection on Loop, Stereo Audio. Painting, printed paper, dimensions variable.