Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537460
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 JULY 2025 ART CHRISTINE X Art Gallery presents Anthony Weitz's latest solo exhibition, 'Chasing the Light – Malta en plein air,' a captivating collection of plein air oil paintings that celebrate the radiant es- sence of Malta. The exhibition is hosted at the newly established 1926 La Galerie on Old Theatre Street in Valletta—just opposite the Manoel Theatre—and will remain open to the public until 31st July 2025. Renowned for his bold, impressionis- tic style and atmospheric compositions, Weitz works directly on-site across Malta's diverse landscapes, capturing fleeting effects of light and mood in re- al time. His work reflects the island's sun-drenched coastlines, rustic village rooftops, quiet inland paths, and vibrant urban corners. From the raw immediacy of outdoor sketches to more reflective, interpretive studio pieces, Weitz invites viewers into a deeply personal and poetic dialogue with the Maltese landscape. Spanning more than a decade—from 2012 to the present—the exhibition fea- tures approximately 16 works, including both early plein air studies and more re- cent canvases that push toward abstrac- tion. The selection traces the artist's evolving relationship with Malta's geog- raphy, shifting seasons, and ever-chang- ing light. Some pieces, like Veccja Har- bour, offer swift, monochromatic studies executed on location, while others, such as Siege Bell, reveal the freedom of stu- dio work where colour, brushwork, and emotion are unbound by visual realism. Weitz describes painting en plein air as "reacting to the whole visual and vis- ceral experience of being outside, and simply responding as quickly as possible before the sun moves on and colour and shadows change." Inspired by artists like Sorolla and Chamberlain, he views this practice as both a challenge and a thrill — a way of embedding spontaneity and presence into every brushstroke. In con- trast, studio work allows him "the free- dom to abstract, interpret — a liberation from visual realism and the constraints of replication." Emotionally, the exhibition spans a wide range—from tranquil, contempla- tive scenes bathed in soft morning light to energetic compositions alive with movement and brilliance. The overall mood is both uplifting and introspective, offering a vivid portrait of Malta not just as a place, but as an experience. "My aim," says Weitz, "is not to paint a perfect picture, but to convey a moment of connection — the warmth of sun on stone, the hush of dawn, the pulse of the Mediterranean light. I want visitors to feel a quiet intimacy with the scenes, and maybe even recall their own moments of wonder in nature." The venue, 1926 La Galerie, is a new addition to the 1926 hotel brand and is set to become a dedicated space for on- going exhibitions. Christine X Art Gal- lery is proud to collaborate on this inau- gural show in Valletta's cultural heart. Anthony Weitz's latest solo exibition Chasing the Light: Malta en plein air Veccja Harbour Marsa Flotsam