Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544987
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 CULTURE Artist Bob Cardona presents BACK WHEN at Xara Palace in Mdina Maltese-born artist Bob Cardona presents BACK WHEN, a new solo exhibition at the Xara Palace in Mdina from 4 June until 16 July MALTESE-BORN artist Bob Cardona presents BACK WHEN, a new solo exhibition at the Xara Palace in Mdina, exploring memory, identity and everyday life through a series of evocative figurative paintings inspired by recollections of ear- ly years in Malta. Born in Malta but creatively shaped during more than four decades living and working in England, the artist originally began studying fine art before moving into a successful in- ternational career in design, branding and visual commu- nication. Following a return to painting in 2016, fine art has become a renewed and deeply personal direction. BACK WHEN marks an im- portant chapter in that journey. The exhibition brings together a collection of contemporary figurative works drawn largely from memory — fleeting mo- ments, familiar faces and scenes of ordinary Maltese life reima- gined through a contemporary yet nostalgic lens. Working predominantly in acrylics, the artist combines ele- ments of contemporary realism and semi-abstract expression, using a muted retro-inspired palette that evokes atmosphere and emotional resonance with- out relying on traditional nos- talgia. "These paintings are less about documenting the past and more about capturing the feeling of memory itself," Cardona said. "They reflect small human mo- ments that might otherwise be overlooked, but which stay with us over time." The works reveal the influence of a long creative career in de- sign while embracing a more personal and expressive visual language. Observation, story- telling and the quiet humani- ty of everyday subjects remain central themes throughout the exhibition. Set within the historic sur- roundings of the Xara Palace in Mdina, BACK WHEN offers viewers an intimate and reflec- tive experience that celebrates memory, place and the endur- ing character of ordinary life. BACK WHEN will run from 4 June at 6pm until 16 July at The Xara Palace, Mdina, Malta.