Something Old, Something New, Something borrowed, Something Blue, does not have any intentional inuendo to the traditional English wedding rhyme. The title of Patrick Galea's exhibition purely symbolises just under a score of years of a transitioning passage from watercolour to acrylic painting. Patrick's watercolours were mainly executed in controlled perspective and purity of the medium. However he found the bold, vibrant freedom of acrylics allowed for greater expression and layering, ultimately leading to a new signature style. 

Something Old represents continuity with the past. While his academic training, mainly in architecture and interiors, had nurtured art forms with an objective approach to realism, his first acrylic works, though in most cases, representational, enabled him to explore the emotional aspect of abstraction. Example: Freeport

Something New suggests optimism for the future. The experience of the viewer is often a central element of Patrick's work, moving away from a sole focus on the artist's "genius" or the artwork's beauty. Example: Tree Contours

Something Borrowed brings borrowed inspiration from Patrick's favourite artists. Mainly, he refers to influential and revered artist like David Hockney whose bright, bold colours, multi-perspective compositions, digital art, and other media have impacted him, which may also be seen in the way contemporary art is redefined and by approaching art as a continuous dialogue between the past and present. Works like Of Trees and Playarea may be construed as an example.

Something Blue refers to his paintings which are rich and varied, typically symbolising serenity, stability, and depth, much like the Maltese sky and sea. Patrick's use of bright blues in most works, represents light, tranquility and harmony, evoking a sense of relaxation, while darker shades evoke themes of wisdom and trust but rarely sadness. The specific meaning of each work is heavily influenced by a cultural context and the artist's intent. Example: Howard Gardens - It-Tomba.

Overall, this show is a collection of all four adjectives in the title, which are a mixed variety of elements found in Patrick's works. Through this process, he aims to enhance self-awareness, a key factor in recognizing one's strengths and weaknesses and in better envisioning and pursuing future goals.

The exhibition is open all day at the Xara Palace Hotel - Mdina, until 21 November.