The exhibition of paintings by Kenneth Zammit Tabona and Mariam De Giorgio Home is Where the Heart is, was launched by the Marquis Nicholas De Piro on 7 December at the Palm Court Lounge, the Phoenicia. The exhibition was curated by Professor Charlene Vella. Many of those invited were enjoying the paintings and the evening.

Here is Marquis De Piro's speech:"I hope you will all agree with me. Let me assure you Ladies and Gentlemen, that I am not here, hired to help sell the pictures in this exhibition. I am here because of my own conviction that both Kenneth Zammit Tabona and Mariam de Giorgio are worthy of praise. Their work hangs together on these walls. Perhaps they blend to a certain extent, but in fact they are different. They have both achieved that standard which we call quality. Both are desirable but I have no intention of comparing the two other than to say that I am most favourably impressed by both for their occasional touch of humour, their interpretation of local characteristics and the sophistication of their abilities tuned in so many cases to entertain us.

I have known Kenneth for a long time, right back to the nineteen seventies. Since then he has (should I use the word) blossomed! His fuori dentroes developed, and illustrated not only the garden and seaside views in Malta, but also our tastes and pretentions: our expensive pottery, the way some of us dress, there is a lot about fashion, there is detail which was often overlooked by other artists and now accentuated to entertain us. Kenneth has climbed the ladder of quality and as his works improved we have learned how to interpret and understand his complexity and erudition.

Mariam De Giorgio has surprised me, and perhaps most of us too: she is blessed with a great deal of perception in her work, and, as does Kenneth she entertains us with her interpretation of things which we often take for granted. I am not here to analyse things, but my wish is to share my enthusiasm and I am more than confident that all of you surely must like what you see here. "Mariam although I have not known you for very long, I am now one of your fans!"

A word of praise for Professor Charlene Vella for bringing this delightful collection of paintings for us to see, enjoy and collect.

Happy Christmas everybody."

The exhibition is open until 1 January 2025.

Photos: Michele Zammit