A new exhibition by Andrew E. Zarb is opening today at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba.
Memoirs of an Armchair, curated by Melanie Erixon, unfolds as a series of staged photographic encounters in which a series of armchairs becomes both backdrop and protagonist. The works emerged through a process of experimentation while Zarb was engaged in other projects.
Across these works, female sitters occupy this domestic object in shifting states, from semi-dressed and masked to nude or holding a large book, each posture negotiating intimacy, control and display.
Masks, along with Zarb’s bravura in camera manipulation, obscure identity, while gestures and poses heighten the tension between presence and concealment, between the intimacy of a private moment and the assertion of power over the viewer.
Historically, the armchair has functioned as a symbol of authority, seen in thrones and ecclesiastical seats, as well as of status, repose and private leisure. Here, it is reimagined both as a silent observer, absorbing the imprints of each body that inhabits it, and as a kind of podium for the sitter.
At times, Zarb employs it playfully, positioning the body in ways that challenge the chair’s conventional use.
Three of the works feature a recurring motif. Seated figures hold oversized books that conceal their faces while exposing the body, particularly the legs, introducing a play between intellect and eroticism, visibility and withdrawal. The act of reading becomes theatrical, even ironic: knowledge shields identity while the body remains on display. These works mark the beginning of a larger, ongoing series.
About the artist
Andrew Zarb is a self-taught photographer who approaches the medium as both a passion and a pursuit, constantly waiting for and seeking the right moment.
His deep connection to nature is reflected throughout his work; his photographs convey his thoughts while capturing the emotions and impressions that emerge from his relationship with his subjects, whether human or inanimate, during the time he spends with them. He is continually eager to learn from other dedicated photographers, whom he regards as valued mentors.
Zarb works with both digital and analogue cameras. While the coloured world fascinates him, it is the black-and-white realm that evokes a deeper sense of curiosity and emotion. Often described as a quiet individual, Zarb allows his photographs to articulate what words cannot express.
A full-time technician and photographer, and a part-time farmer, Zarb has participated in various exhibitions in Malta and was also selected to take part in a major collective exhibition in Venice.
Memoirs of an Armchair runs until April 26. The exhibition opens today at 7.30pm. For opening hours, visit the venue’s Facebook page.