Debbie Bonello's third solo exhibition, Crowded, invites viewers to explore the dynamic relationship between individuals; between people who know each other and strangers we daily walk past.

The following is an excerpt from Prof. Charlene Vella's article which appeared in The Malta Independent on Sunday of 24 November 2024. She writes: "Bonello is perhaps better known for her landscape paintings, but she is also an accomplished portraitist and has worked on images of crowds for a number of years, observing and analysing people before approaching the canvas. Originality is an important element for her, as an artist who needs to constantly reinvent herself, but also as an individual. "To evolve and change. That was my aim with this solo," she remarked.

Crowded, explores the intersection of self and environment, highlighting Debbie Bonello's distinctive perspective on Malta's identity and the broader human experience. This collection delves into the ambiguity and fluidity of modern existence, capturing figures within unfamiliar urban landscapes that blur the line between the familiar and the abstract. Bonello's fluid, slightly abstracted oil brushstrokes perfectly evoke the elusive nature of these themes.

The exhibition features a series of striking paintings that depict crowds from both bird's-eye perspectives and frontal views. Each canvas serves as a visual commentary of modern life, capturing the essence of human connection - or, paradoxically, the absence of it - through the lens of anonymity. Debbie Bonello's third solo exhibition, Crowded, invites viewers to explore the dynamic relationship between individuals; between people who know each other and strangers we daily walk past.

Her technique is marked by a distinctive use of silhouette, with figures rendered in shadowy forms that blend into the simplicity of the background.

In Crowded, Bonello channels this rich, art-historical tradition while simultaneously forging her own path. By reducing figures to silhouettes,  she taps into a contemporary narrative that resonates with the disconnection often felt in today's hyper-connected world.

Bonello's Crowded is more than an exploration of crowds. One can view it as a meditation on the collective human experience in the modern world. As we navigate our own crowded lives, Bonello's silhouettes resonate, reminding us of both the connections we seek and the solitude we often endure."

This exhibition is curated by Justine Balzan Demajo.

'Crowded' is open at Studio 87, Liesse Hill, Valletta until 19 December. Opening times: Wednesdays to Fridays from 4 to 7pm and Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm

Photos: Noah Bonello