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MALTATODAY 14 April 2019

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THIS WEEK ART maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 APRIL 2019 4 Curator and founder of Studio 87 Justine Balzan Demajo speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about Smudge – a collaborative exhibition featuring the works of Gabriel Buttigieg, Sarah Chircop, Charles Balzan and Ryan Falzon, all of which nudge at the under-explored arena of nudity and eroticism in Maltese art First off, could you tell us a little bit about Studio 87? What were some of your main aims in setting it up, and how would you say it fits into the visual arts ecology of Valletta in particular? Upon returning to Malta three years ago, after studying and work- ing abroad, one of my dreams was to open a private art conserva- tion studio. The studio space was originally an old store, belonging to my great Auntie Tessie. While renovating it I saw potential for it to also serve the community, espe- cially when considering the need for more art spaces in Malta. Hav- ing an interest and some experi- ence in curation, I decided to have the ground floor as an exhibition space. Studio 87 is not a gallery, but more of an independent com- munity art space. Its scope is to be a reference point for art goers and enthusiasts, as well as a safe and inspirational space where one who may not be so familiar with the field, may feel encouraged and welcome. What were some of the ideas behind Smudge? How does the exhibition fit in with your interests and background as a curator? Having been following and in- trigued by Gabriel Buttigieg's work, I approached him and together we decided to create a collabora- tive exhibition focusing on themes such as eroticism and nudity, and the vulnerability and ephemeral- ity that surrounds them. While he helped me scout for relevant art- ists, I selected works which I felt worked harmoniously when placed together. As a curator, I enjoy the challenge of dealing with pre-conceptions of what people expect art to be. It may be said that the subjects of eroti- cism have faced many restrictions in reaching the public in Malta, even in more recent years. Having studied in Florence where the hu- man figure is celebrated not cov- ered, even associated with divinity, I wanted to explore how the idea of the creative act can be illustrated by eroticism. On what criteria were the participating artists that make up Smudge chosen, and how would you say each of them contributes to the ethos and thematic structure of the exhibition? All four artists, are collectively depicting some form of intimacy but all in rather different ways. With Gabriel Buttigieg's miniature series 'Infant as Monster', he retells a narrative of the sexual encounter between a couple. The style and palette used is playful and some- what childlike, which contrasts with the strong subject matter. Ryan Falzon's work is also direct and crude. His acetone prints are ephemeral and engaging, exploring intimacy with fetish undertones. Charles Balzan shoots and ex- poses his subjects in movement. In their vulnerability, they appear to be animalistic, and here too does the art contain that ephemeral quality. While Sarah Chircop's approach is more subtle and gentle. Her hauntingly beautiful photographs Teodor Reljic Laid bare and mixed up Object-Relations: 'The Infant as Monster' by Gabriel Buttigieg

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