Running with Scissors is the title of Paul Scerri's upcoming solo exhibition which will feature as many as 30 new works, including his iconic portrait busts, wall hangings and free-standing figures.
The exhibition will be held at Splendid, in Strait Street, Valletta, a venue which truly complements Paul's tongue-in-cheek body of work.
Curated by Lisa Gwen Baldacchino, in his catalogue, she explains how "Paul has found a most distinct aesthetic. His figures are exceedingly curious to behold, not unlike the characters out of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, only more autobiographic and context-specific... each of these figures has been drawn from the artist's immediate environment; each piece triggered by an eccentric character, a random encounter, or even by a news item".
"Paul's work is presented through a series of recurrent themes, reinforced through the use of objects or symbols such as blindfolds, keys, scissors, facemasks, headdresses and birdcages. These are sometimes accentuated through the use of mixed media, found objects or bright and iridescent metals. There is also a distinct link with the work Paul presented in past shows, almost as though there is a narrative being presented through continuation and the 're-use' of symbols."
Mr Scerri is no newcomer to the scene. Over the years, he participated in several collectives, locally and abroad; one of the more recent shows which put a spotlight on his work, being Xebgha Nies (2014).
Paul studied ceramics abroad, at the Accademia di Belle Arti Pietro Vanucci, Perugia and proceeded to further his studies at the Istituto Statale D'Arte G. Ballardini in Faenza. He also studied the design and decoration of ceramic tiles in Imola. He was also awarded first prize in Ceramics in the 1o Concorso Avis held at the Comune Municipale in Faenza. He taught ceramics at the Art and Design Centre in Valletta for around four years and he is presently part-time lecturer in ceramics at the Faculty of Education within the University of Malta.
Running with Scissors will open to the public on Saturday, 5 December and will run until 16 December. The exhibition will be open during the following times: Monday to Friday: 10.30am to 7pm; Saturdays: 10.30am to 8pm and Sundays: 10.30am to 7pm.
The event is being supported by Halmann Vella Ltd.
More information as well as a few teaser images can be found on www.paulscerri.com, a website which was specifically designed for this project, and which will be updated with the full selection of images after the launch of the exhibition.