Nailed to the walls of gallery Art…e and arranged in a quasi-salon-style montage, “Selection-D.O.C.” brings together 12 works by Christopher Saliba and Mario Cassar. Entering gallery Art…e, on the right, five works by Saliba are displayed with another one taking up the space of the central wall, while on the left are the paintings by Mario Cassar. When squinting my eyes at both sides of the gallery, I could immediately capture a similarity between the works of the artistic duet; reason being these two Gozitan artists agreed to exhibit in this gallery.
Saliba creates his work by using mixed media while Cassar obtains the desired effect by scratching into the oil colours applied, with the canvas surface stopping him from penetrating it. Standing at the far end of the gallery keeps the viewer’s curiosity from reaching out to touch the works and unveil the artists’ secrets of application of colour and techniques. Moving backwards also helps the viewer to better appreciate the selected works as an entity without missing the relationship these bear to each other.
Thick vertical brushstrokes which form square and rectangular shapes help in the creation of Saliba’s forms which are definite and precise. Pieces of sack worked over with paint to achieve a thickly textured surface, support the balance of patterns which are diverse in their own ways. The dichotomy between kinetic and static in Saliba’s works is to be witnessed. Whether paint is being applied vertically or horizontally, it has a dynamic flow and yet its weight almost keeps it from moving. The prominent blues and reds, lightened with shades of primary yellow and accentuated by the grainy texture, transform Saliba’s canvases into a multiplicity of influences. Primordial and Fleeting Impression are two works which re-produce the artist’s own experimentation and revelation of colours. Saliba endlessly applies colours and endeavours different techniques until he gives form to his articulate and expressive images.
The work titled Reclining Figure stands out from the rest; it is larger in size and located centrally. The female figure in red is prominent in her erotic pose. The sharp light that falls from behind the curtain makes her look skeletal and the curves of the body are reduced to geometrical shapes.
The strong use of primary and complementary colours in Christopher Saliba’s paintings contrast with Mario Cassar’s rich pastel colours. Cassar’s work is rich in details, unlike that of Saliba, which generally tends to capture the essentiality of things. Cassar’s paintings are highly inspired by our surroundings that we still hold close to heart. The two works titled Fontana After Rain by Cassar and Valletta by Saliba, hanging opposite each other, have a bearable similarity and connection. The local scene engulfing both artists has led them to produce these works, without diminishing their own identity.
Leafs of gold are almost present in every work by Mario Cassar. The gold leaf is not just applied but also scratched into and placed with meticulous care to balance the work. Cassar also inscribes words onto the layers of the oil paints. The name of the famous cafeteria in Pjazza Regina, in Valletta – “Caffe Cordina” – is engraved in a special font, as is the abbreviation “VR” to Queen Victoria.
The influence of our surrounding and texts that we visualise is also seen in the work titled Flats. Dark currents of menace and even aggression linger over this art work. The claustrophobic nature of urban buildings is expressed through browns and umbers which are reminiscent of masters like Van Dyke, which contrast sharply with the luminosity of the gold leaf and burnt sienna. Some lines that run through the painting to form wild inscriptions found on flat walls, are thicker than others. To achieve this, Cassar possibly may be using the other end of the brush to make effective use of time and not lose the precious moments of inspiration. With its simplistic designs which could easily be mistaken for naivety, this painting instantly instigates my imagination and bonds me to it.
Within the space, the different textures and compositions come together through a light blue tone that all Cassar’s works seem to emanate. The icy cold shades of blue in the painting The Queue help in evoking the enigmatic atmosphere, where a row of people of the female sex are awaiting something with the utmost will enduring the heavy rain and bitter cold.
The coming together of these two prominent artists hailing from the sister island in this joint exhibition is a valid contribution to the on-going and lively Gozitan art scene. Cassar never stops searching for our roots in his own works, whereas Saliba’s forceful expression through his mastery of colours and techniques gives way to his own and distinctive identity.
The exhibition runs till 15 April. Gallery Art..e is situated at 1, Library Street, Victoria, Gozo. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 9.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. On Fridays the gallery is open from 5 till 7 p.m. Private viewing may be arranged by phoning 2155-7911 or 9980-4774.