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MALTATODAY 27 October 2024

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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 OCTOBER 2024 2 ART Joseph Farrugia solo exhibition to open at the Malta Society of Arts Featuring thirty works in various media exploring themes of time, balance, and the human experience RHYTHM of Fading, a solo exhibition by Maltese artist Joseph Farrugia, is set to open at Palazzo de La Salle in Val- letta on Thursday 31 October. Featuring 30 works created over the past two years, the exhibition explores themes of time, rhythm, and the balance between chaos and order. A seasoned artist, Farrugia em- ploys a variet y of media – in- cluding soft pastels, charcoal, acrylic, and oil paints – to bring these concepts to life. Farrugia explains that the medium he uses in these spe- cific artworks is intimately tied to the subject matter and emotional tone of each work. "The medium I use depends on the theme I want to explore and the mood that I am in," he elaborates. "For example, I find charcoal to be more spon- taneous and intense, whereas painting in oils or acrylics is generally more calculated, es- pecially if applied in various layers and glazes." In Rhythm of Fading, Farru- gia delves into the concept of time's passing and its increas- ing significance in his life. "As I get older, the sense of time passing, and the rhythms in- volved in such passing, be- come more pronounced. This exhibition is a reflection of this exciting stage of my life," Farrugia muses. The theme of the exhibition revolves around the figure of the juggler, a metaphor for bal- ance, control, and the rhyth- mic nature of life. Farrugia's paintings depict the juggler's craft, an interplay of order and disorder, expressed through dynamic techniques that con- trast calculated precision with fluid, spontaneous movement. "This exhibition is an evolu- tion of my previous works, with a focus on the passage and nature of time," says Far- rugia. "The juggler represents the interaction of order and balance, while the random and chaotic movement is displayed in the paintings through the various techniques used." "Visitors will experience the progression of the works as they move from one room to the next, beginning with the juggler in an urban setting and ending in a personal cosmos," explains Adrian Mamo, pres- ident of the Malta Society of Arts. "While each painting is a standalone work of art, to- gether they form a narrative that invites viewers to reflect on existence, consciousness, and the passage of time." Rhythm of Fading is not just a visual journey, but it is al- so an exploration of deeper philosophical themes inspired by Farrugia's own reflections and research in literature and music. The exhibition invites visitors to engage with the art- work on both an aesthetic and intellectual level, creating a space for personal contempla- tion and interpretation. "The collective impact of the works creates a narrative that hopefully provides the visitor with an experience and insight into the very nature of be- ing," Farrugia concludes. "The paintings are meant to please the eye, but also offer scope for further reflection that may extend beyond the visit to the gallery." Rhythm of Fading, an exhibi- tion by Joseph Farrugia, runs from 31 October to 21 Novem- ber 2024 at Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. En- trance is free. For more details about the exhibition please visit www.artsmalta.org, www. facebook.com/maltasocietyo- farts or www.facebook.com/ events/1364741521165768. About Joseph Farrugia: Joseph Farrugia (b. 1959) is a Maltese visual artist who has been engaged in drawing and painting throughout his life. In addition to his artistic practice, he has taught art at the post-secondary level and currently lectures on visual literacy for marketers at the University of Malta. Farrugia is also known for his work as an economist, spe- cialising in industrial relations and social dialogue. His dual career reflects his wide-rang- ing interests in both the struc- tural aspects of society and the inner workings of human con- sciousness. Farrugia has exhibited his work in numerous venues, in- cluding the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Mu- seum of Archaeology, Spazju Kreattiv, the Palais des Na- tions in Geneva, Splendid Gal- lery, Iniala Gallery, and most recently at MUZA in 2023. He has also participated in vari- ous collective exhibitions in Malta. His art is introspective, often addressing existential themes rooted in a lifelong search for identity. Farrugia's works provoke deep questions about the nature of existence, invit- ing viewers to reflect on the complexities of being and the essence of the human experi- ence.

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