The opening of Sarah Calleja's exhibition Tonal Whispers, at Camilleri Paris Mode in Rabat brought together family and friends to what turned out to be an evening of fun but also of pleasure for art lovers.
Her third solo exhibition, Tonal Whispers, showcases her growing maturity and confidence as an artist. Featuring over 30 watercolours, oils, and acrylic paintings created over six years, the collection invites viewers into a subdued, atmospheric world. Calleja continues her commitment to a restricted palette, demonstrating a refined exploration of tonalism - here colour, light, and mood take precedence over detail.
From her debut in 2019 to her second solo show in 2022, Calleja has consistently used monochromatic palettes, amplifying emotional depth rather than limiting expression. Her approach, deeply influenced by plein air painting, has evolved into abstract tonal explorations that offer a meditative experience. Unlike her earlier works, which emphasized precise brushwork and architectural delineation, her latest pieces embrace fluidity and immersion. Structured lines dissolve into washes of colour, giving way to atmospheric light that shapes rather than illuminates her compositions.
Light plays a central role in Calleja's artistic language, capturing sensations rather than realistic depictions. She strives to evoke - the silvery quiet of moonlight, the heaviness before rain, or the haze of dusk. Her affinity with Tonalism aligns her with late 19th-century artists like Whistler and Inness, emphasizing mood over detail. The poetic titles of her paintings - such as Celestial Nocturnes, Moonlit Escapes, and Ethereal Nights-reinforce their introspective, immersive nature.
While tonal subtlety dominates her work, Calleja also introduces warmth in pieces like Sally Port, using muted reds and greens to heighten emotional impact. In Moonlit Path, she demonstrates mastery of tonal modulation, where light appears to emanate from within rather than fall upon the canvas. The influence of Whistler's Nocturnes is evident, particularly in her exploration of liminality - the threshold between night and day, material and immaterial.
More than landscapes, Calleja's paintings evoke emotional states, whispering rather than declaring. Her artistic evolution is marked by a loosening of brushwork, greater confidence, and an emphasis on psychological landscapes over topographical accuracy. The large-scale works in Tonal Tranquillity provide viewers with an immersive sanctuary of tones and moods, reflecting her ongoing dedication to abstraction and introspective artistry.
The exhibition, Tonal Tranquillity, runs until 31 May at Camilleri Paris Mode, Rabat.
Photos of opening night by Kim Sammut