On the occasion of Lejlet Lapsi Notte Gozitana held in Gozo last weekend, the Speaker of Parliament Anton Tabone officially inaugurated an exhibition at George Scicluna’s art studio in Paul Portelli Street, Victoria, where a retrospective collection of his works will be on show all year round.

During a speech, Mark Sagona introduced Mr Scicluna’s work, saying that he has always nurtured admiration for the way Mr Scicluna approaches his art, with meditation and thought and an authentic, humble yet assertive spirit. His art is not meant to be decorative; on the contrary, it is the means through which his personal vicissitudes are given tangible form, his concerns released. The anxieties, which trouble the true artist, are revealed through an incessant exercise of soul searching and experimentation. Mr Scicluna is one of the few genuine artistic spirits to emerge from Gozo at the turn of the 21st century.”

Mr Scicluna studied art at the Salvatore Dimech School of Arts in Mosta where he obtained a diploma in Graphic Design. He proceeded with his studies at the School of Arts, Malta and at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Perugia, Italy. In the late 1980s he worked as a scenographer with the Impresa Fasano, Rome, painting perspectives for opera theatres in Italy.

Mr Scicluna won first prize in several art competitions, took part in numerous collective exhibitions and presented four solo exhibitions to date. Last year he was invited by Scottish artist Peter Howson to make a joint exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland.