Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528159
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 OCTOBER 2024 2 ART 'Vibrant Forces: Nature in Living Colour' by Joël Circhanski-Deleuze – First solo exhibition in Malta VIBRANT Forces: Nature in Living Colour, the first solo exhi- bition in Malta by the renowned French-born artist Joël Circhan- ski-Deleuze, is now open to the public. The exhibition, curated by Prof. Charlene Vella, presents a series of non-representational paintings exploring nature's in- terconnectedness, blending viv- id depictions of birds, sea crea- tures, and other animals into intricate compositions. Joël's work reflects his Slavic heritage and the breadth of his experiences living around the world. Born on October 15, 1956, in Langon, Gironde, France, he graduated from the School of In- terior Architecture in Bordeaux. The architectural precision in his art is enhanced by his use of bold, tropical colors, inspired by the landscapes and textures en- countered during his extensive travels. These influences are particu- larly evident in his technique, which he describes as "compres- sions"—merging overlapping shapes and textures to create a sense of depth and complexity. Over a career spanning decades, Joël has exhibited international- ly, including major exhibitions in New York and Florida. His return to France in 2000 brought him back to the Basque region, where the European seasons and landscapes influenced his evolv- ing artistic approach. He contin- ued to explore new materials and textures, further developing his unique style. By 2005, Joël had moved to Switzerland, where he exhibited his works at prestigious venues such as the Galerie des Arènes in Bayonne and was Guest of Hon- our at the 10th Salon des Métiers d'Art des Armées du Sud-Ouest in St. Jean-de-Luz, under the patronage of Mrs. Michèle Al- liot-Marie, France's Minister of Defence at the time. His talent has been recognized with several international awards, and galler- ies in France and the USA cur- rently represent him. Now based in Kalkara, Malta, Joël continues to draw inspi- ration from the natural beauty surrounding him. His paintings, characterized by their vivid, earthy palette, reflect the colors of Malta's Mediterranean land- scape and the artist's profound connection with nature. When not painting, Joël and his wife enjoy sailing around the Maltese islands, another source of crea- tive inspiration. Vibrant Forces: Nature in Liv- ing Colour presents a collec- tion of Joël's latest works, which evoke a sense of unity and inter- connectedness in nature. The overlapping forms of birds and sea creatures blend together, symbolizing the deep, emotion- al ties between living organisms. This exhibition is a testament to Joël Circhanski-Deleuze's mas- terful ability to translate his ob- servations of the natural world into powerful, non-representa- tional art. The exhibition will be held at The Atrium, The Xara Palace, Mdina, until 28 November. For more information, visit www. charlenevella.com Joël Circhanski-Deleuze