Currently on display in Valletta is a collective exhibition by a handful of artists whose works are taking up Palazzo de la Salle’s upper floor exhibition space. With some 100 artefacts divided between five artists, the onus is on diversity, and not merely where artistic content is involved.

For one thing, True Colours shows the works of three Maltese and two Bulgarian artists, whose infatuation with art is gleaned from varied sources and transmitted through various mediums.

Kevin Casha explains: “This exhibition was born as an offshoot of my previous collaboration with the Bulgarian artist Vania Goshe. We had worked together on combining our artistic talents for the Notte Bianca event, where Vania had painted her interpretations onto some of my photographic work. The work was pretty successful and provided the impetus to do something on a larger scale.”

All in all, this is not a small exhibition, although the participating artists are only five in total. The interest lies in the diversity and in the way Maltese and Bulgarians have joined focrces to hold a display of their artwork.

Kevin Casha, as a well-established photographer, widely known in Malta for his long-standing professionalism, is exhibiting a variety of photographic works, selected from his wide repertoire. The most succinct images are perhaps Pet Love, Tree in Bloom and Flight to Freedom. Vania Goshe is certainly very prolific in thematic content and her work includes paintings ranging from the smallest yet extremely detailed painting on wood entitled Belle, to paintings of abstract work, nudes and mystical female figures. Her preference is for acrylics and pastels with works being typified by strident, bright colours and exceptionally detailed portraiture.

Another Bulgarian artist on board is Bogdan Dylgerov who displays not only a range of paintings but also a small but succinct selection of highly interesting and innovative sculptures in bronze. From his simplest and most linear bronze statuette Awaiting, one can go on to admire his wildly surrealist bronze The Bird 3. Then there are his abstract paintings such as People in Blue and the rather cartoonish work entitled Sunday Ride. His painting media include acrylic, oil, pastel and charcoal.

Charles Bonnici is a popular and well-appreciated Maltese artist whose artistic origins developed in the States, but whose art is typically represented by Malta’s very own natural stone. His delicate stone sculptures worked in globigerina limestone are easily recognisable. Bonnici’s most distinctive pieces on exhibit here are perhaps Mother & Child and Lovers, smallish but intense in their composition and concept. Then, stop to admire Nicole Casha’s Behind Closed Doors, one of her many varied painted works, which introduce this new painter to the public. Also a designer producing computer generated design work and art researcher, Nicole Casha prefers to use chalk, watercolour, acrylic, oil, and ink in order to present a selection of varied works for this exhibition.

True Colours Collective exhibition is on display at Palazzo de la Salle, 219 Republic Street, Valletta. The exhibition is open until 21 May. Opening hours: weekdays 9am to 7pm; Saturdays 8am to 12noon.