Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526669
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2024 2 ART Double Exposure Project ON Friday, 6th September, at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat, an exhibition was inaugurated by Martin Agius, who special- izes in street photography. The project focuses on double expo- sures, where each photo comple- ments the other. This exhibition is open to the public from Monday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 4:15 p.m. The exhibition will remain open until Sunday, 29th September. Comment by Martin Agius, photographer This project originated amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Malta did not enforce a strict lockdown, nu- merous establishments, such as shops, restaurants and entertain- ment venues, were compelled to close down, leaving only essential services operational. The pre- vailing fear amongst people, led to desolate streets, creating a dis- heartening sight. As a photojour- nalist, it became my responsibility to venture out, capture and record the essence of this somber world- struck period of time. Even though I encountered a sig- nificant challenge in my pursuit of street photography, due to the absence of individuals in public spaces, I was still determined to utilize my spare time productive- ly. I pondered over alternative solutions, contemplating, "What could be a suitable undertaking?" It was then that the idea of cre- ating double exposure images, which has been a long-standing aspiration of mine, emerged. In- trigued by this notion, I decided to employ street photography as the foundation to this project. To enhance its complexity, I opted to combine images from Malta, my current location, with images cap- tured during my frequent visits to London before the pandemic. The initial double exposure pho- tography received an overwhelm- ingly positive response, bolstering my confidence and prompting me to continue expanding the collec- tion. Unfortunately, my Lon- don-based image reservoir even- tually depleted. Nonetheless, my enthusiasm for this project re- mained consistent, compelling me to shift my focus solely on captur- ing street photography in Malta. As normality gradually returned, I regained the ability to explore the streets and resume my photo- graphic aspirations. The project persisted, garnering international recognition through interviews, articles, podcasts and features in prominent magazines across The United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Asia, The United States, and vari- ous other European countries. Subsequently, I had the oppor- tunity to visit Milan to attend the ProgresFestival organized by Batsceba Hardy, the founder of Progressive Street, alongside a group of like-minded individuals from all over the world. Conse- quently, I acquired a diverse range of knowledgeable material, en- abling me to expand the double exposure project to encompass Malta, Milan, Valencia and Ven- ice alike. This year, I have set my inten- tions on visiting other countries, of which I am confident will be conducive in further augmenting the scope and artistic essence of my double exposure project. On a final note, I would like to thank the people who have brought me to where I am today. A special big thanks goes to my wife, Therese, for her unwavering support and patience, the Wigna- court Museum, for the opportuni- ty to exhibit here, and to my dear friend Matthew of Photoimages, together with his wife Marisa, for their full help and support in the printing for this exhibition, and much more. Also, Bernadette Carabott for the proof reading, Joe Cassar, the editor of the newspa- per which I work for, who has been of a gateway to my photographic career. The Malta Photographic Society and The Malta Institute of Professional Photography, for their continuous help and support throughout the years. Last but not least, another heartfelt thanks go to all my followers and those who believe in me. Works exhibited by Martin Agius at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat, Malta