Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529635
8 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 22 NOVEMBER 2024 CULTURE Christopher Saliba's 'Skylines' exhibition to open in December RENOWNED Gozitan artist Christopher Saliba is set to captivate audiences with his latest exhibition, Skylines, a dynamic collection of expres- sionist landscapes inspired by the Maltese Islands. Opening on December 1st at art..e Gallery in Victoria, Gozo, the exhibition will run until December 28th, showcasing Saliba's distinctive ability to reimagine Malta's iconic vistas through bold abstraction and vibrant colour. Saliba's artistic journey has been nothing short of remark- able. After qualifying as an art educator in 1996, he received a four-year scholarship to study at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti in Perugia, where he specialised in abstract paint- ing, sculpture, and etching. His time in Italy was a period of immense growth, marked by contributions to large-scale ab- stract works and site-specific installations, as well as collab- orations with mentors and fel- low artists. This foundation led to his Master's degree in Fine Arts in 2001, where his disser- tation, La Poetica del Sublime, reflected his fascination with the interplay of beauty and emotion. Returning to Gozo, Saliba balanced his career as an art educator with a rigorous stu- dio practice, producing work that has been celebrated both locally and internationally. His pieces have graced the walls of venues such as the Na- tional Museum of Fine Arts, St. James Cavalier, and Auberge d'Italie in Malta, as well as galleries in Paris, London, and Milan. Over the years, he has partici- pated in numerous exhibitions, earning him as well the paint- ing award at the 2007 Malta In- ternational Biennale and rec- ognition at the 10th National Art Competition in 2011. In Skylines, Saliba breathes new life into familiar Maltese landscapes, using bold brush- strokes and a warm palette to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The works in- vite viewers to experience Mal- ta's natural beauty with fresh eyes, presenting the islands' energy through an abstract. The result is a visual experi- ence that speaks to the timeless charm of Malta while offering a contemporary reinterpretation of its landscapes. Saliba's art has found a home in private and public collec- tions across Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Marsalforn by night Gozitan cliffs The Citadel Fontana, Gozo