Alison Zammit Endrich, Touch

"Perception is the first MSA members' exhibition that I am taking part in since I joined two years ago. I was intrigued by the idea of a themed collective exhibition, so I took up the challenge to find a way of making my work relevant to the chosen theme - the senses. My artwork, which is called Touch, was made by applying colour to the back of glass, using my fingers to create a painting that appears textured but, in actual fact, is smooth to the touch. The glass section of the artwork is mounted on a heavily textured board, which was created using modelling paste. Currently, I am enjoying painting on glass, as I find it to be a spontaneous medium that differs greatly from my last exhibition, San Blas, which had featured landscapes and seascapes."

 

Elena Degenhardt, Evanescent Memories

"When I moved to Malta last summer, I began to explore my feelings of disconnection through a series of life drawings, where only hands were used to represent humans. After hearing about the concept of Perception, things fell into place. Evanescent Memories is a complex work consisting of five pieces, which explore the ways in which human memory works. It tells a story of missing fragments and asks whether the missing pieces can be restored by the perception of the viewer. Needless to say, I am very grateful to be a part of this upcoming exhibition. Considering the fact that an artist's life is usually one spent in the solitude of the studio, the workshops led by Roderick Camilleri in preparation for this exhibition were a great opportunity to see how other participating artists work, and get feedback on my own work."

 

Katel Delia, Constellation

"My work is based mainly on themes that are visibly resonant in the context of migration; the perception of the environment, the memory it carries and what it transmits. I joined the MSA over a year ago and the open calls for collective exhibitions, such as Perception, motivate me to step outside of my comfort zone. As a multidisciplinary artist, the society enables me to satisfy my curiosity through engagement with other artists and by understanding their problems and questions, which ultimately helps me with my own artistic work. My piece explores the feelings of people wandering alone in the sea with no landmark other than the stars, but still carrying high hopes. Through my installation, I question our perception of the space around us - the sky, the sea or the land - as a spectator inked in the ground."

 

Kamy Aquilina, Thalassophile

"Sound, narrative, space and nature are four concepts that play an imperative role in my art. My contribution to Perception is a Cyanotype sound installation, titled Thalassophile, which was inspired by my love for the sea. The installation utilises two of the human senses - sight and hearing - with the intention of helping people to appreciate the smallest of details in our surroundings. My piece is an attempt at activating the viewer's curiosity, while relaxing to the sound of the sea. My decision to form part of the MSA in 2015 has given me a space to discuss and share different ideas about various artworks. The MSA presents artists with the opportunity to grow, by providing new challenges that have contributed to my personal artistic development, thus enabling me to produce more mature artworks."

 

Damian Ebejer, Emotion(b)All and Abraxis lingers at the Divide

"I have taken part in several collective annual exhibitions in over a decade of membership with the MSA and, this year, two of my works are being featured in Perception. Water has always been a source of inspiration for me; I believe in its connection with spiritual affairs. I thought that, by adding colour to water and presenting a cloth or canvas where one could dry their hands from this water, a sign would be left over. In fact, the end result of Emotion(b)All will be photographic records of what imprints are on the length of canvas/cloth before rolling it into a ball - a sculpture of multiple touches... a momentary brain, in canvas. I am also taking one of my recent paintings to be hung during this expo - Abraxas lingers at the Divide - a mixed-media piece, where I used natural lime, acrylic, oil and pastel on canvas."

 

'Perception' is open until 30 August at Palazzo de La Salle, 219, Republic Street, Valletta. Opening times are Monday and Friday from 8am-7pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am-12pm and 3-6pm and Saturday from 9am-1.30pm. For more information visit artsmalta.org