Over the years, I’ve had the honour of exhibiting my works in numerous solo exhibitions, both in Malta and abroad. At each stage of this journey, I’ve been humbled by the attention and support of many insightful art critics and feature writers, who reviewed my exhibitions and offered thoughtful interpretations of my work. Their reviews often brought forward layers of meaning I had unconsciously embedded in my art, and their words were a source of both encouragement and reflection. I remain deeply grateful for their contributions — each of which has become part of my artistic legacy.
As time passed and my collection of paintings grew into the hundreds, I began to sense the need for a deeper, more structured reflection — a way to bring together the full arc of my journey into one coherent body of work. I wasn’t looking for praise, but for understanding. For someone who could bring an objective, critical eye to decades of visual expression and help me prepare for the next chapter: the publication of a major book.
That’s when I turned to Marta Lock, an esteemed Italian art critic and curator whose depth of insight and elegant language I greatly admire. I entrusted her with the task of engaging critically with my entire collection — not just the works exhibited in galleries, but also those in storage, in sketchbooks, in progress. Marta approached this project with admirable dedication, immersing herself in the creative flow of my world.
What emerged from her study was a powerful and deeply affirming body of work: a critical review of my art, structured into 22 thematic chapters. Each chapter reflects a particular style, technique, or conceptual thread that has emerged over the past 25 years of painting. Marta’s essays go far beyond surface interpretation. She explored how my artistic identity unfolded over time, interpreting the emotional undercurrents, the symbolic language, and the stylistic choices that define my practice.
Working with Marta allowed me to see my work through fresh eyes — and to better understand the continuous line that connects my earliest paintings to my most recent compositions. Her voice, like those of the many Maltese and international critics who reviewed my earlier shows, forms an essential part of how my work lives beyond the canvas.
Equally vital in this journey was the contribution of Nicole Baldacchino, who worked in parallel with Marta during this intensive phase of the project. Nicole viewed each of my paintings individually — an extensive and meticulous task — and assisted in the classification of the works under the 22 categories Marta had defined. This laborious process not only helped us maintain a coherent structure throughout the book, but also enabled me to select a carefully redacted set of artworks for inclusion in each of the reviewed chapters. Her precision, commitment, and curatorial support brought an invaluable dimension to the entire effort, helping to bridge the analytical with the visual.
The collaboration with Marta now serves as the foundation of a new book I am preparing, which will feature around 600 artworks created over the past quarter century. The book will include her critical essays, along with high-quality reproductions of my paintings, drawings, and mixed media works. It is both a record and a reflection — a visual chronicle of my evolution as an artist, framed by critical insight and personal reflection.
This project is not simply about legacy — it’s about continuing a dialogue between artist, viewer, and critic. It’s about opening the door for others to step inside my creative process and perhaps find a reflection of their own stories within.
In upcoming blog posts, I look forward to sharing a few of these chapters with you, along with stories behind the works that shaped them. Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey with me.
