At last, I managed to visit Christine X's Art Gallery in Qui-Si-Sana. I have been meaning to go for a long time but somehow never made it. However, The Malta Independent on Sunday gave her great support over these years as it gives to culture generally.
Christine opened her gallery in 2004. Her intention has, from the start, been to showcase the work of significant local and international contemporary artists. She says: "I try to showcase new work which continues to challenge the boundaries of contemporary art." She has just returned from a working visit to Ethiopia and there is another exhibition on the books next month.
That evening I was there to look at Johan Siggesson's exhibition of photographs Horses of Salt and Wind. I love his photos of wildlife. How does he do it? Lions, tigers, elephants, cheetahs... photographed at what seems to be close range.
He manages to capture the essence of African animal wildlife in its most authentic form. But this time he was presenting us with wonderful photos of wild horses in the Camargue.
I've never been there. I have been to Paris, Provence and other parts of France several times but not the Camargue. I have already put a visit to the Camargue on my bucket list with a hop to Paris for my favourite tarte tatin. But let me confess to you at once, that all this is in the land of dreams. I don't have a bucket list. I know compiling one will be a waste of time...I now only travel to visit my children and grandchildren. There is no time or energy for more than that. I am so lucky. I have seen so much already
Siggesson's keen eye and technical finesse bring to life the iconic horses that roam this landscape. I looked at each photo - photos of various sizes are exhibited - breathtaking photos that not only captivate but also inspire a profound appreciation of the beauty of these horses.
Johan Siggesson is a celebrated name in the realm of animal wildlife photography. This exhibition is yet another testament to his commitment to capturing the essence of animal wildlife in its most authentic and majestic form.
It is a beautiful showcase of the horses of the Camargue. Johan is a Swedish wildlife photographer and married to Olivia, who is Maltese. That evening I discovered that Olivia and myself are third cousins. They live in Malta with their two children.
I asked Johan what drew him to the Camargue. "Those horses have, they always fascinated me. Their white coats are striking, and I loved the idea of photographing them against either a dark background or in bright light. Both work beautifully in black and white. Eventually, I knew I had to go." So how did he go about it? "I contacted a local gardien who arranged for me to work with the horsemen of the region. They are known as gardians. Without their help, I wouldn't have been able to get close enough for the images I envisioned. Gardians ride alongside the horses and help bring them near, creating the moments I was looking for. It was a very different approach from how I usually work in Africa, and that change was exciting. What also struck me was how these horses live. Most of us think of horses as stable animals, kept in enclosures and controlled by people. These horses are different. They're not completely wild, but they roam vast open areas year-round, with no stables and minimal interference. They're only rounded up once or twice a year for health checks. That balance between care and freedom felt special to me, and it's something I wanted to capture in my images."
In Horses of Salt and Wind, Johan Siggesson turns his lens toward one of nature's most poetic spectacles - the white horses of the Camargue. Set against the stark, untamed beauty of southern France's salt marshes, this black-and-white series transcends documentation, inviting viewers into a world shaped by motion, myth, and the elements.
Siggesson's mastery of monochrome reveals the raw spirit of these semi-wild horses. Stripped of colour, the images focus on form, texture, and contrast, amplifying the tension between power and grace. The viewer is drawn into a liminal space where wind, water, and salt coalesce - where nature breathes through the dust kicked up by hooves, and silence is as evocative as thunder.
More than a study in equine beauty, this exhibition is a meditation on resilience and freedom. The Camargue horse, shaped by centuries of adaptation to a harsh environment, becomes a symbol - of survival, tradition, and something ancient that refuses to be tamed. Through Siggesson's lens, we are offered a moment of stillness in a world of motion, and a chance to reflect on our relationship with the wild, the fleeting, and the eternal.
Horses of Salt and Wind
Photographs by Johan Siggesson
Christine X Art Gallery, Sliema | 18 September - 4 October 2025