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13 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 SEPTEMBER 2023 Ethelbert Perini, 'A Collective Solo' exhibition DECADES of experimentation with several media as well as for- mal training have led Ethelbert Perini to create a collection of artworks that are being exhibit- ed in what is his first solo exhi- bition. The exhibition's title, 'A Col- lective Solo', is an oxymoron that prepares the viewer pri- marily for a diversity in the themes that are being pre- sented. However, the medi- um employed for each work is consistent throughout. The technique that Perini uses is soft pastels on paper or board, and it is one that he discovered when exploring different media throughout his artistic journey. Soft pastels were for him a revelation and exposure to a new medium that challenged him to tread new ground and which he took to immediate- ly. His technique is one that he has mastered over years of practice. He is now able to ex- ploit the medium to its full po- tential also utilising the colour- ed support that he allows to show through the composition which he also uses for middle or base tones as well as the dif- ferent textures that different supports of his choosing have to offer. This collection consists large- ly of still lifes, land, street and seascapes, as well as portraits. Perini's palette is a varied one consisting of diverse tones, which are a common thread throughout this series of works. For still lifes, Perini's ap- proach is dominated by a par- ticular stylisation which are executed with ease, using a lot of the pastel to add colour to the support and manoeuvring it across the support. Adequate and captivating light on objects gives them more form, such as the memorable lush green of the apples. These different methods of using chalk pastels showcase Perini's abilities and the versatility of the medium, and which is also visible in the other themes. His style is one that is fresh, an element which is best appreci- ated in the seascapes. With just a few twists of the pastel, Perini seems to effortlessly be able to capture the movement of the alluring waves and ripples in what can be called a calligraph- ic technique; The starting point for each composition is always nature, Perini's surroundings, as well as the human form and phys- iognomies. The process that Perini undertakes is to then select the best viewpoint and vantage point of each scene. While some still lifes are ap- proached frontally in what is a more traditional approach, some are seen from a bird's eye view, or even a view from above. He then proceeds to contemplate each composition and execute it by selecting the most important elements, and adding life to each object by a variety of tones and a sharp chiaroscuro, or light and shade. Perini studied art under mas- ters such as the late Harry Al- den and Anton Calleja. And then it is years of self scrutiny and perseverance that have led to Perini reaching this level of art and confidence of execu- tion. This exhibition has been long overdue and comes after many years of training, research, preparation and mastering of the soft pastel technique. 'A Collective Solo' is being held throughout the month of October in the Palm Court Lounge of The Phoenicia Malta and is curated by Dr Charlene Vella.