Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546283
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 AUGUST 2026 ART Tomoko Fait and the Cartography of the Collective Unconscious FROM 3 to 17 September, Bizzilla Art Space at MAPFRE MSV Life will host The Archetypal Self, an exhibition by Japanese-born, Rome-based artist Tomoko Fait. Bringing together a compelling selection of paintings spanning nearly two decades, the exhibi- tion presents an opportunity for Maltese audiences to encounter an artistic practice that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal. At the heart of Fait's work lies a vision that echoes Carl Gustav Jung's concept of the collective unconscious: the hidden layer of the psyche populated by arche- types, symbols, and primordial forms shared across human ex- perience. Her paintings do not merely illustrate this territory; they appear to emerge from it. Each composition unfolds as a visual cosmology, a complex and immersive landscape in which consciousness, memory, dream, and spirituality converge. Fait occupies a distinctive posi- tion within the tradition of Vision- ary Art; a movement concerned less with representing the mate- rial world than with revealing the unseen dimensions that under- pin it. Her canvases function as portals rather than images. They invite viewers to enter meditative spaces where familiar distinctions between inner and outer realities begin to dissolve. The experi- ence of encountering her work is therefore not simply aesthetic but transformative, requiring contem- plation rather than interpretation. What immediately distinguish- es Fait's paintings is the extraor- dinary density of their surfaces. Countless minute marks, intricate patterns, and highly refined de- tails accumulate into expansive visual ecosystems. In an age in- creasingly dominated by digital reproduction and artificial image generation, her painstaking crafts- manship carries particular signif- icance. Every line bears witness to the sustained presence of the artist's hand, reinforcing the sense that these works are the products of an intensely personal and irre- placeable creative process. Throughout the exhibition, re- curring mandala-like structures serve as compositional anchors. Radiating from central points, these forms evoke notions of or- der, balance, and unity that reso- nate across cultures and spiritual traditions. Yet in Fait's hands, the mandala is never merely decora- tive or symbolic. It becomes a liv- ing structure through which cha- os and harmony coexist, reflecting the dynamic relationship between the conscious self and the deeper, archetypal layers of the psyche. Among the highlights of the ex- hibition is Amazzonia (2015), a work that has already established a significant place within the art- ist's oeuvre. Exhibited at the pres- tigious Salon d'Automne in Paris in 2015, the painting remains one of Fait's most powerful visual statements. The canvas presents a teeming, organic universe com- posed of countless microscop- ic forms, pulsating colours, and flowing structures. Within this intricate environment, a luminous green figure emerges almost un- expectedly, acting as both guard- ian and witness. The work evokes the vast intelligence of nature it- self, suggesting a world in which all forms of life remain intercon- nected through invisible currents of energy and consciousness. Equally compelling is Tappeti Galattici (2024/2025), where the artist's fascination with cosmic order finds particularly refined expression. The composition is organised around a series of ra- diant mandalas suspended within a star-filled universe. Geometric precision coexists with exuberant colour, producing a visual rhythm that recalls both sacred diagrams and celestial navigation maps. The painting conveys a profound sense of expansion, offering a vi- sion of the cosmos as an intricate network of interconnected ener- gies. Another notable work is I Pro- tettori (2013), where archetyp- al presences appear to inhabit a symbolic landscape. Here, guardi- anship is not represented through narrative but through form itself. The painting suggests protective forces operating within the sub- conscious, embodying the uni- versal human need for guidance, resilience, and spiritual shelter. In Futuro (2008), the manda- la assumes an even more central role. The composition projects an image of possibility and trans- formation, exploring how the fu- ture might be understood not as a destination but as an unfolding state of consciousness. Through vibrant colour relationships and rhythmic geometric structures, Fait visualises the continuous evo- lution of the self. A contrasting dimension of the artist's work emerges in Trap- pola (2026). Here, the imagery becomes more psychologically charged. The dramatic concentric circles and branching, web-like forms create a sense of tension between attraction and entangle- ment. Yet even within this com- plexity, there remains a compel- ling beauty. Rather than depicting a literal trap, the work can be un- derstood as a meditation on the structures, desires, and percep- tions that both shape and confine human experience. What makes Tomoko Fait's work particularly relevant today is its ability to transcend geographi- cal, cultural, and linguistic bound- aries. Her paintings communicate through a visual language rooted in archetype and intuition. They speak to audiences seeking mean- ing in an increasingly fragmented world, offering spaces for reflec- tion, connection, and transcend- ence. The Archetypal Self is therefore more than an exhibition of paint- ings. It is an invitation to explore the inner landscapes that unite human experience across cul- tures and generations. Through her visionary imagination and ex- traordinary technical dedication, Tomoko Fait reminds us that art remains one of the most power- ful means of accessing the hidden dimensions of ourselves and the world around us. What makes Tomoko Fait's work particularly relevant today is its ability to transcend geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries Tomoko Fait LOUIS LAGANÀ