In Gozo’s small art e Gallery, Loud Silence is an exhibition of fourteen painting created over the past four years, all of which are being shown in public for the first time.
Maria began her art studies at Gozo Art School and was subsequently tutored by Ray Pitrè (1940-2024). “Later, I took part in art sessions at the studio of Harry Alden (1929-2019), under whose guidance I sharpened my eye and was guided to look at subjects from different artistic viewpoints. During this period, I started to explore new styles and seek various solutions on how to express my feelings more creatively,” she explains.
“These works draw on my intuition, freedom of expression, and imagination to move beyond the visible, giving form to intangible emotions on canvas. I strive to transform internal impulses into geometric forms and expressive gestures, completely detached from the external world. Each piece reflects an ongoing interplay between light and shadow, emptiness and presence. I am completely fascinated with colour and its myriad variations. For me, colour emits light, while shadow represents the presence of light.”
“The act of painting itself takes centre stage in my work. Flowing veils, billowing forms, and occasional liquid streams of colour build up into complex, multilayered compositions that transcend spatial and temporal boundaries. I intensify the tactile quality of the surface with thick applications of fabric and other materials, adding depth and texture.”
With these works, rich in vibrant blues and reds, Maria invites you to actively engage with the visual elements—connecting scattered lines and forms, appreciating both the simplicity and subtle variations of colour, and following the rhythmic movement that unfolds across the canvas.
“I chose to title the exhibition Loud Silence as I find it very evocative,” says Maria. “Through my works, I try to explore the paradox of presence within absence, sound within stillness. Through bold gestures, layered textures, and a nuanced use of colour, I invite viewers into a space where emotion is expressed without narrative, and meaning emerges beyond words.”
“I present works that do not depict; they evoke. I see them as possessing an inner intensity—silent yet unignorable—capturing the raw energy of feeling and thought in abstract form.”
Loud Silence runs at art e Gallery in Victoria until May 23