I have never been to the Gemelli Framing Art Gallery until I went to Peter Seychell's launch of his exhibition BAHH last Wednesday.
First of all I was impressed by what the government had done in Ta Qali. I used to go regularly with my grandchildren and watch the glass blowers, say hello to the animals, watch artists make filigree, enjoy the playground and then spread our picnic blanket as I produced all kinds of 'illegitimate' food which the children would normally not be allowed to eat. These are precious memories.
Once I arrived at Gemelli I was immediately greeted by its director, Raymond Attard. It is an artist's paradise with an art gallery on two floors, over 800 choice of frames, an excellent area where a generous selection of nibbles and wine were spread out and loads of parking!
In the evening tables were placed outside and many enjoyed a chat and a glass of wine in the cool of the day.
At last I met the artist who spent some time with me commenting on his paintings. I had only seen a very few of them digitally. I was impressed. Peter was born to paint even if he has only been doing so in the last four or so years. This is his first solo exhibition. His paintings transmit an atmosphere, a sense of place, mood and feeling... in some, gloom, too. His is not the classic landscape painting. His various paintings have depth. I love the white and stark snow scenes best of all. They have magic and power. You allow your imagination to run away trying to interpret them. In Malta which is full of sound and fury, road blocks and cranes one longs for a place where the eyes can rest, the other senses, too. As I age more and more I find that solitude has become my friend (stairs my enemy). Just admiring the 'white', snowy paintings I felt rested.
It would be hard to look at some of his paintings and not be exhilarated. Peter produces paintings which are powerful and engaging. This is an exhibition full of aesthetic content; full of inventivness.
He is a trained draughtsman and his favourite medium is ink. This is evident in many of the paintings.
The famous poet, Baudelaire (Les Fleurs du Mal) wrote in an assessment he published after Delacroix's death (1863) that the painter is 'a volcanic crater artistically concealed beneath bouquets of flowers.' Peter doesn't have many flowers in his exhibition. I only remember seeing poppies in a beautiful painting which reminded me of the famous poem Flanders Fields by John McCrae: 'In Flanders Fields the poppies blow/Between the crosses, row on row...' So sad. I've been to Flanders Fields with one of my daughters and we sat there and cried at the obscene loss of life. This particular painting was much admired. Maybe Peter is a volcanic crater, too, hiding in scenes which are far from Malta.
There is evidently more to Peter than meets the eye. There are hidden depths to his paintings. They are mostly a magnificent synthesis of form, colour and mostly emotion. They have psychic force.
I would like to recommend to you this exhibition which will stimulate and enrich rather than underwhelm the visitor.
Bahh exhibition
Meet the artist at Gemelli Framing
Saturdays 8th and 15th July
9:00- 12:30
Wednesday12th July
17:00-19:30
Opening times
Monday - Friday 9:00-14:00
Saturdays 9:00-12:30
Please pm Peter directly for private viewings.
[email protected]
Photographer Keith Darmanin