Vexilla Regis – an exhibition of Crucifixes
Via Crucis: It-Triq tas-Salib
Twilights: an exhibition of sacred art by Aaron Formosa
Since Il-Ħaġar is now closed because of the latest health restrictions, current temporary exhibitions have been transferred online. Though the management appreciates that it is not the same experience as being present physically, this should offer some idea of what was available.
“Twilights” features sacred art by Aaron Formosa. Basically a self-taught painter, he was born in 1980 and has participated in various collective and solo exhibitions in Malta and Gozo. His works can be found in private and public collections, locally and overseas. In his art, Formosa aims to capture the intensity of transient emotions and communicate these experienced moments. A crepuscular light pervades these paintings in such a way that the loosely painted figures seek to manifest themselves in this aura of semi-darkness. He teaches philosophy, in which he holds a masters degree, at the Sir M. Refalo Sixth Form.
All the paintings are for sale* and can be seen in greater detail by clicking on each separate one. Kindly send an email to info@heartofgozo.org.mt if interested in acquiring any of the paintings still for sale.
*Sold paintings are marked accordingly
1 The Annunciation 1 Oil on wood 48x15cm 2019 SOLD
2 The Annunciation 2 Oil on wood 33.5×17.8cm 2019 SOLD
3 The Marriage of the Virgin 1 Oil on canvas 30x40cm 2017 Private Collection
4 The Marriage of the Virgin 2 Oil on canvas 30x24cm 2017 Private Collection
5 The Marriage of the Virgin 3 (a study) Oil on wood 33.5×33.5cm 2014 SOLD
6 The Marriage of the Virgin 4 Oil on canvas 25x30cm 2020 SOLD
7 The Visitation 1 Oil on wood 48x15cm 2019 SOLD
8 The Visitation 2 Oil on canvas 60x40cm 2020 € 330
9 Nativity 1 Oil on canvas 40x30cm 2016 Private collection
10 Nativity 2 (Pastoral Symphony) Oil on canvas 50x40cm 2017 Private Collection
11 Nativity 3 Oil on canvas 30x40cm 2019 SOLD
12 Nativity 4 Oil on canvas 30x24cm 2019 € 300
13 Nativity 5 Oil on canvas 40x30cm 2018 € 300
14 The Presentation of Christ at the Temple Oil on wood 50×15.3cm 2020 SOLD
15 The Death of St Joseph Oil on canvas 40x40cm 2019 Private Collection
16 The Temptations of Christ in the Desert Oil on canvas 30x50cm 2012 Il-Ħaġar Museum (donated by the artist)
17 Christ and the Children 1 Oil on canvas 50x40cm 2020 € 420
18 Christ and the Children 2 (a study) Oil on canvas 40x30cm 2020 Private Collection
19 Christ and the Children 3 Oil on canvas 50x50cm 2017 SOLD
20 Christ and the Children 4 Oil on canvas 50x60cm 2017 SOLD
21 Christ Healing the Sick Child 1 Oil on board 35x45cm 2019 € 350
22 Christ Healing the Sick Child 2 Oil on canvas 30x40cm 2020 SOLD
23 Christ Healing the Sick Child 3 Oil on canvas 50x60cm 2019 SOLD
24 Christ Healing the Sick Child 4 (or the Victory of Light over Darkness) Oil on canvas 30x30cm 2020 € 200
25 Christ Raising the Child of Jairus from the Dead Oil on canvas 60x60cm 2018 SOLD
26 Christ Healing a Sick Person Oil on canvas 50x50cm 2017 Private Collection
27 Christ and the Adulteress Oil on canvas 40x40cm 2014 Private Collection
28 The Last Supper Oil on canvas 40x40cm 2019 SOLD
29 Christ Falling under the Cross on the Way to Calvary Oil on canvas 55x45cm 2019 SOLD
30 Deposition 1 Oil on canvas 40x30cm 2018 SOLD
31 Deposition 2 Oil on canvas 24x30cm 2020 SOLD
32 The Walk to Emmaus 1 (a study) Oil on wood 27.6×19.6cm 2020 Private Collection
33 The Walk to Emmaus 2 Oil on wood 34×28.2cm 2020 SOLD
34 The Supper at Emmaus 1 Oil on canvas 24x30cm 2019 SOLD
35 The Supper at Emmaus 2 Oil on canvas 30x30cm 2019 SOLD
36 The Supper at Emmaus 3 Oil on canvas 24x30cm 2020 SOLD
37 The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles 1 Oil on canvas 30x24cm 2020 SOLD
38 The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles 2 Oil on board 30x24cm 2019 SOLD
39 The Death of the Virgin 1 Oil on canvas 50x50cm 2018 SOLD
40 The Death of the Virgin 2 (a study) Oil on board 45x35cm 2019 € 330
41 The Assumption of the Virgin 1 Oil on board 40x30cm 2019 SOLD
42 The Assumption of the Virgin 2 Oil on canvas 40x30cm 2020 SOLD
43 The Call of Karmni Grima 1 Oil on wood 22.5×31.5cm 2019 SOLD
44 The Call of Karmni Grima 2 Oil on canvas 50x60cm 2019 € 400
45 The Call of Karmni Grima 3 Oil on canvas 24x30cm 2020 € 220
Joseph Vella and Oliver Friggieri: A Meeting of Minds
Since Il-Ħaġar is now closed because of the latest health restrictions, current temporary exhibitions have been transferred online. Though the management appreciates that it is not the same experience as being present physically, this should offer some idea of what was available.
Joseph Vella and Oliver Friggieri: A Meeting of Minds, set up for the third anniversary of Mro Vella’s demise, is a documentary exhibition offering an overview highlighting collaborations between two greats of the Maltese art scene. Is-Surmast’s Music Archive, which he donated just a few hours before his passing is also available for research purposes and can be visited on level 3.
The posters below can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Il-Ħaġar Museum closed
We regret to inform you that in view of the new COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Government, Il-Ħaġar Museum will be closed with immediate effect until 11 April 2021. However, one can still admire its Lenten displays online.
One of the exhibits include hundreds of miniature clay statuettes representing a Good Friday procession. The statuettes were made by Joseph Agius, Paul Muscat and the late Lino Fardell, long-established Christmas crib artisans. The idea of creating this artistic Good Friday procession was, in fact, developed within the circle of presepisti and pasturi artisans. There are figurines of various styles, representing both the strictly traditional devotional procession and the modern pageantry type.
Vexilla Regis, housed in a showcase on level -1, has an impressive range of Crucifixes, from different periods and in assorted styles.
An exhibition of sacred art -Twilights – by Aaron Formosa is also available to view online. The theme of the exhibition is human existence in the light of Christ – the spiritual light which enlightens the human condition and makes it meaningful.
Il-Ħaġar Museum is also commemorating the 3rd anniversary of Mro Joseph Vella’s demise with an exhibition about the collaborations between him and another Maltese great who passed away last year, Profs Oliver Frggieri. Joseph Vella and Oliver Friggieri: A Meeting of Minds includes a number of posters regarding the two works, Rewwixta and Il-Belt Rebbieha.
Third Joseph Vella Memorial Lecture
Below are the Lecture Notes prepared by the author.
Pain that is laid bare
This artice by Goeffrey Attard was published as an art opinion piece on Times of Malta, to commemorate the launching of the 10th edition of “Il-Ħaġar Gems Series ”
PAINtings
Il-Ħaġar Gems Series No. 10
by George Scicluna,
edited by Joseph Borg & Maria Frendo
“Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. This is what renowned British author C. S. Lewis of Narnia fame wrote in his famous book The Problem of Pain and this is what came to mind as I visited Il-Ħaġar Museum in Victoria (Gozo) for the inauguration of George Scicluna’s exhibition PAINtings.
The choice of the name for the present exhibition has a history of its own. Scicluna, together with our common friend and fellow painter Aaron Formosa and myself, were visiting Venice for a short holiday and both friends wanted to make the best of the time we had together by visiting as many art galleries as possible.
Back in the hotel at night-time, the discussions focused on the various painters and portraits we had seen on the day. We reflected on the first four letters of the word ‘painting’ coming to the conclusion that one cannot create a painting without first going through the experience of pain.
Scicluna’s philosophical outlook on life is reflected in the paintings that are featured in the present exhibition. This comes out clearly in Mgr Joseph Farrugia’s foreword to the publication that accompanies the exhibition when he refers to the painter’s “never-ending philosophical discussions”.
Scicluna’s paintings are fascinating. He is able to immortalise particular moments in time and space in such a way that they become iconic. Even his most intimate paintings are inviting in such a way that the spectator feels that he is part of it himself. There is a vibrant intimacy in Scicluna’s paintings.
The beholder is hooked without being harmed and transported to the very moment so brilliantly captured in the particular painting. His Before the Procession presents a quasi-playful and decidedly joyful scene which is a distinct feature of the proceedings; the same can be said for his Celebrating St George’s Feast and the more profane Inland Sea Dwejra Gozo.
In his penetrating foreword, Mgr Farrugia clearly states PAINtings presents us “with a case where knowing the artist allows a deeper insight into his art”. In fact, some of the individuals appearing in these paintings are so vividly presented that the paintings radiate a life of their own.
In his exhaustive presentation, art critic E. V. Borg concludes that “although autobiographical, the work has a universal and cosmic dimension”. The fact that some of the paintings feature different places in Victoria and in Gozo endears in no small measure our painter with the local community. However, Scicluna’s ‘universal’ dimension is not to be underestimated.
PAINtings reveals Scicluna’s dynamism at its fiercest, impacting the senses without alienating the spirit. This is due to the ‘paradox and polarity’ that characterise most of his works.
This is another de luxe publication in the series, a glowing testimony to the brilliance of the artist and a trademark of the high standard achieved at Il-Ħaġar Museum and Cultural Centre at the heart of Victoria.
Christmas Concerts
Il-Ħaġar museumkept to its custom of presenting concertinos also during this festive season.
The first instrumental and vocal recital, “Christmas Charm”, was held recently. It featured two sisters, accompanied by pianist Francis Camilleri. Valentina Rapa performed works on her saxophone alto, followed by soprano Antonella Rapa.
Festive activities at Il-Ħaġar Museum, in Victoria, continued with a concert of Christmas carols by a group of choristers from the Laudate Pueri Choir, under the direction of George J. Frendo and leader Maria Frendo. Titled “Gloria in Excelsis”, the concertino featured carols and motets arranged for four female voices by David Willcocks and Joseph Vella.
The concerts were supported by the Gozo Ministry’s cultural heritage directorate.
Photos by Charles Spiteri
‘Privileged Outcasts’
‘The Privileged Outcasts’ – the title of a ‘pasturi’ (crib statuettes) exhibition held over Christmas period at il-Hagar -, refers to the shepherds who were considered as inferior members of society. However, they were the first privileged to be given the news of the birth of Jesus.
Works by pasturi artists Lino Fardell, of Żejtun, and Carmelo Agius, of Pietà, both deceased, are being exhibited.
There are also creations in clay and papier-mâché by Agius’s son Joe and the late Manuel Axiak, of Tarxien. Figurines, modelled in Maltese raw clay in the 19th century, were also on show.
Carmelo, George and Saviour Farrugia – sons of the late renowned Gozitan artist Lorenzo – are also represented.
Gozitan Joe Camilleri, with his terracottas, and Paul Buttigieg, of Lija and who moulds pasturi in wax, also have works on display.
The pasturi come from the collection of George Cassar.
As part of this exhibition, the museum also set up a traditional crib by Carmel Farrugia.
This exhibition was part of the Christmas activities organized at the museum, and was supported by the Gozo Ministry’s Cultural Heritage Directorate.
Photos by Charles Spiteri