On 6 September at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat, the exhibition was inaugurated by Martin Agius, who specialises in street photography. The project focuses on double exposures, where each photo complements the other.
This exhibition is open to the public from Monday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4.15pm. The exhibition will remain open until Sunday, 29 September.
Comment by Martin Agius, the photographer
This project originated amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although Malta did not enforce a strict lockdown, numerous establishments, such as shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, were compelled to close down, leaving only essential services operational. The prevailing fear among people, led to desolate streets, creating a disheartening sight. As a photojournalist, it became my responsibility to venture out, capture and record the essence of this somber world-struck period of time.
Even though I encountered a significant challenge in my pursuit of street photography, due to the absence of individuals in public spaces, I was still determined to utilise my spare time productively. I pondered over alternative solutions, contemplating, "What could be a suitable undertaking?" It was then that the idea of creating double exposure images, which has been a long-standing aspiration of mine, emerged. Intrigued by this notion, I decided to employ street photography as the foundation to this project. To enhance its complexity, I opted to combine images from Malta, my current location, with images captured during my frequent visits to London before the pandemic. The initial double exposure photography received an overwhelmingly positive response, bolstering my confidence and prompting me to continue expanding the collection.
Unfortunately, my London-based image reservoir eventually depleted. Nonetheless, my enthusiasm for this project remained consistent, compelling me to shift my focus solely on capturing street photography in Malta. As normality gradually returned, I regained the ability to explore the streets and resume my photographic aspirations. The project persisted, garnering international recognition through interviews, articles, podcasts and features in prominent magazines across the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Asia, the United States and various other European countries.
Subsequently, I had the opportunity to visit Milan to attend the ProgresFestival organised by Batsceba Hardy, the founder of Progressive Street, alongside a group of like-minded individuals from all over the world. Consequently, I acquired a diverse range of knowledgeable material, enabling me to expand the double exposure project to encompass Malta, Milan, Valencia and Venice alike.
This year, I have set my intentions on visiting other countries, of which I am confident will be conducive in further augmenting the scope and artistic essence of my double exposure project.
On a final note, I would like to thank the people who have brought me to where I am today. A special big thanks goes to my wife, Therese, for her unwavering support and patience; the Wignacourt Museum, for the opportunity to exhibit here, and to my dear friend Matthew of Photoimages, together with his wife Marisa, for their help and full support in the printing for this exhibition, and much more. Also, Bernadette Carabott for the proof-reading; Joe Cassar, the editor of the newspaper which I work for, who has been of a gateway to my photographic career and the Malta Photographic Society and The Malta Institute of Professional Photography, for their continuous help and support throughout the years. Last but not least, another heartfelt thanks go to all my followers and those who believe in me.
