The representation of time and the thematic concept of the human condition have long been subjects of intrigue for artists, philosophers and academics alike. Tempus Edax Rerum is an exhibition of woodcut prints by the upcoming artist David Borg, whereby he attempts to explore such vast territories through the woodcut technique. Taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis, Tempus Edax Rerum translates to "time, that devours all things". Time is an element which is central to Borg's series of woodcut prints. These artworks echo the thematic element of time through a retrospective lens, by depicting the artist's 10-year journey in woodcut printing.
Borg (b. 1993) lives in Lija and is a structural engineer by profession. He has nurtured a passion for art and art history since his early childhood. He began his artistic path through the practice of drawing and painting and later through craft-making at the Ta' Qali Crafts Village under the mentoring of Sonny Gatt. Borg discovered woodcut printing techniques during his first year at the University of Malta, under the guidance of artist and educator Anabel Cordina and soon turned this into his own artistic expression. Since 2012, he continued to experiment and further his research into both this technique, as well as his preferred artistic subject matter; the human condition and the passage of time. Borg's knowledge in his practice is evidently visible in the sheer precision which his woodcuts evoke.
This exhibition features a total of 15 artworks which have been created between 2012 and 2022. These prints, which come in limited editions, are grouped in threes in order to evoke the cyclical nature of Borg's thematic concept, time. These groupings encompass the entirety of the human journey - a theme which is very close to the artist, but equally aims to tug at the heartstrings of the viewers.
Tempus Edax Rerum is curated by Hannah Dowling. The exhibition will run from 2 until 24 September at Gemelli Ltd in Ta' Qali Crafts Village, Attard. Entrance is free. Opening hours throughout are from 8am to 2.30pm excluding Thursdays. On Saturdays the exhibition is open from 9am until 12noon. Throughout the month, several group visits and Meet the Artist and Curator events will be organised and published on social media.
More information on the exhibition and the aforementioned events may be found on Facebook and Instagram. For group visits with a guided tour by the artist and curator, kindly send an email to [email protected] or call on +356 7944 2531.