For his fifth personal exhibition, Mario Agius is showing a series of sculptures inspired by various themes. Rinascita is a showcase of wood, stone and marble sculptures in which Agius is expressing his love for capturing figurative and semi abstracted forms. Besides exploiting a variety of materials, Mario makes use of their particular features to enhance his expressionist renderings. His expressionistic and almost primitive approach to the media is visible especially in his wood and weathered limestone sculptures.  As stated by Mr George Glanville, the exhibition's curator, “...the title chosen for this exhibition, Rinascita, clearly reflects  the philosophy of the Gozitan artist and denotes the manner he chooses material to use it again in sculpture. Mario’s instinct and outstanding technical skills  transforms waste materials into works of art, materials which would otherwise end up in a fireplace or in a fill-in site”.

Mario Agius (b.1956) has manifested a fond inclination to sculpture and design from his early years. He began his artistic studies under the late Mgr Michelangelo Apap and furthered his studies in wood sculpture under the famous Maltese artist, the late Anton Agius. The artist has a number of sculptures in private collections both locally and abroad including in London, Switzerland, Germany and Australia. His finest wood sculptures adorn churches all around the Maltese Islands. In 1989 he furthered his studies in Cheltenham, England at the White Knight Gallery under the tuition of the international artist Ian Norbury. Mario has been actively taking part in various collective exhibitions both locally and abroad including those organised by the members of the British Woodcarvers Association. In 2009 he exhibited in Germany after being invited by the Marzi Art International Galerie of Hamburg. Besides, Mario won a silver medal while participating in the 10th International Salon Ganfa′ exhibition in Nantes, France with the sculpture entitled Ballerina. In 2012 he had an exhibition of sculptures entitled Roots at Palazzo Ferreria in Valletta. Last February a monumental wooden sculpture measuring two metres in height named Kommunita was installed at the Mgarr Terminal in Gozo after it was choosen among the Eco-Gozo scheme to instal permanent works of art in Gozo.

This solo exhibition illustrates works created by the artist to combine his past studies, past experiences and his inner feeling towards art. Thus, this exhibition serves as a manifesto of the artist’s inner soul.

Rinascita will remain open for public viewing until 15 July at Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian's.

The artist can be contacted on 9947 2831 or by visiting his website www.marioagius.com