A number of abstract paintings by Maltese artists’ produced between the years 1980-2005 and which are found in the National collection are being exhibited at the Exhibition Hall at the Ministry for Gozo. This exhibition is being organised by Heritage Malta and the Ministry for Gozo and will run till 31 January.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, in the presence of Dennis Vella, Curator Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Museum of Fine Arts who gave a brief overview of the development of abstract art in Malta while Heritage Malta CEO Dr Luciano Mule’ Stagno speaking about Heritage Malta’s commitment to strengthen its operations in Gozo and to set up similar prestigious exhibitions in the future.

The artists featured in the exhibition are Norbert Attard (b. 1951), Vince Briffa (b. 1952), Austin Camilleri (b. 1972), Pawl Carbonaro (b. 1948), Joseph Paul Cassar (b. 1958), Alfred Chircop (b. 1933), Marco Cremona (b. 1951), Luciano Micallef (b. 1954), Anton Grech (b. 1965), John Grima (b. 1967), Carmen Pizzuto (b. 1957), Joseph Saliba Saliba (b. 1954) and Anthony Spagnol (b. 1960).

Abstract in Maltese painting emerged in the year 1955, 50 years after the rest of Europe, and was initially considered an abnormality, but due to the high standards achieved by Emvin Cremona and Alfred Chircop, today this style has gained a good level of acceptance and is represented in a number of major public and private collections in Malta.

In addition to other trends, the main characteristics in this collection are those inspired by Nature as seen in the works of Chircop, Spagnol, Camilleri and Grima, as well as from gestural improvisation as found in the paintings of Carbonaro and Micallef.

All featured artists have given sufficient record of their commitment to this genre and have also exhibited widely in Malta and abroad.

The exhibition is open on weekdays from 9am till 4.30pm and on weekends from 9am till noon.