This year’s protagonist for the Bank of Valletta’s annual Retrospective exhibition will be none other than the acclaimed Anthony Mahoney who will be presenting a collection of works which will take the viewer through the artist’s different stages in his artistic career. 

This will be the first time for President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca’s to inaugurate  the BOV Retrospective Art Exhibitionwhich this year will open its doors to the public on the 24th of May and will run until the 4th of July 2014 at the foyer within BOV’s Head Office in Sta. Venera.

Born in 1935, Anthony Mahoney’s interest in landscapes and seascapes is evident in his works. He has participated in various solo and collective exhibitions as well as serving on a number of Art Committees. His works can be found locally as well as outside our shores including New York, Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland.

In his description of the artist in the exhibition catalogue, Norbert Ellul-Vincenti says ‘Mahoney’s continual concern with light in his work needs some elucidation. It seems he was always attracted to it, from his early student days with Esprit Barthet, who was most impressed with the young artist’s work. Mahoney says he was attracted by the Impressionists, and by Turner and Constable. His pursuit of the light has little to do with Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro, or the Monet’s kaleidoscopic vision. He may be nearer to Debussy’s glittering piano notes, but even that is not close enough to his source, which is more like a re-arrangement of Genesis, “In the beginning there was light”, which is how he understands creation. And the light brooded over the water, says Mahoney, and has been brooding ever since. From the beginning, Mahoney’s light was always strange, mystical and brooding, but with the progress of time, it has blossomed into the fourth phase with an open epiphany, “I am the Light of the World”.’

Anthony Mahoney’s interest in the History of Art goes a long way. He also lectured in Appreciation of Art to the British Residents Association. Other interests include reading and music both of which have a direct influence on his works.