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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MAY 2023 4 ART Transparencies of the soul THIS May, Spazju Kreattiv – Malta's National Centre for Creativity in Valletta is hosting works by Spanish artist Lucia Vallejo Garay, in an exhibition titled Transparencies of the Soul, including Bohemian Glass, Venetian Glass & Textile pieces. Curated by María de Corra and Lorena Martínez de Corral this exhibition shows the power of artistic experimentations and the possibilities that come from combining techniques and me- dia together. The human experience is a multifaceted one, encompass- ing both the physical and emo- tional realms of existence. As human beings, we inhabit a tan- gible world and interact with it through our senses, movements, and material possessions. These tangible aspects of our identity, from our clothing choices to our daily routines, play a crucial role in shaping how we present our- selves to others and ultimately influence our sense of self. For Lucia, textiles are an essential medium through which she ex- plores the human experience, and her unique perspective on textiles goes beyond mere fab- ric - she believes that textiles possess a special power that captures the essence of what it means to be human. Through her works, she seeks to express the intricate and often paradoxi- cal nature of human life, with all its messiness and glory. To create her art, she combines textiles with glass, which allows her to create striking visual rep- resentations of the human expe- rience. In her series titled 'Trans- parencies of the Soul', she delves into the intersection of life and death, creating works that inter- mingle the two. Through her art, she highlights the fleeting nature of human existence, reminding us of the transience of life and the fragility of the soul. Lucia's skill in manipulating materials is evident in her works, where she emphasises negative space and accentuates the beauty of chance elements that arise from her creative process. Each piece of fabric she uses has its own unique identity, adding another layer of depth and complexity to her art. The beauty of Lucia's work lies in its open interpreta- tion, allowing viewers to draw their own meaning from it. Her art invites us to contemplate our own human experience, to re- flect on the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and failures, and the many complexities that come with being human. Through her unique use of textiles, she offers us a window into the essence of what it means to be alive. Lucia Vallejo's artistry is not limited to textiles alone; she al- so creates stunning glass sculp- tures that showcase her mastery of form, conceptualization, and metaphor. Her creative pro- cess is multi-layered, involving several stages that begin with drawing and progress to plaster maquettes before finally arriving at the glass structure. Her sculp- tures are characterised by their simplicity of form and nuanced conceptual elements, using ab- straction and metaphor to tell a story. Lucia's art frequently incor- porates the symbol of death, drawing inspiration from the Baroque era and the work of Lucio Fontana. Her use of light- ing is also integral to her piec- es, highlighting the air bubbles within the glass to create a sense of vitality and movement within the static sculptures. Another significant role in her creative process is drawing. This is be- cause it serves as a means of communication with the glass master. She places immense trust in the power of glass and the ancient techniques of Mu- rano glass blowing that form the basis of her work. This ancient art form is evident in the atten- tion to detail and the intricate layers of texture that she creates within her glass sculptures. This approach is a deeply immersive experience, one that involves the transformation of molten mate- rial into something entirely new. Additionally, the artist ap- proaches each sculpture with a sense of reverence and care, treating them as if they were living beings with their own unique personalities and charac- teristics. According to Lucia, the air bubbles within the glass rep- resent the fragility of the soul, an unseen yet powerful force that permeates through every aspect of our existence. Moreover, this exhibition is a testament to this, capturing the moment of transi- tion in death through the move- ment captured within the glass. Lucia's sculptures serve as windows into the human expe- rience, inviting us to reflect on the many complexities of our existence. Her work is a testament to the power of art to move and inspire us, to transcend the bounda- ries of time and space, and to connect us with the deepest as- pects of our being. It is evident that Lucia's creative process is deeply personal, and her sculp- tures are a reflection of her own experiences and emotions. Her art is an attestation to the power of creativity to transcend the boundaries of language and culture, to connect us with the deepest aspects of our being, and to inspire us to embrace the beauty and fragility of life. Transparencies of the Soul is being exhibited at Spazju Kreat- tiv in Valletta until Sunday 28th May 2023. For more informa- tion visit www.kreattivita.org. Words by Hayley Bonnici Photo by Elisa von Brockdorff