Gozitan artist Christopher Saliba has brought his latest collection of works together in an exhibition titled – Red is the Colour – which is currently on show at the Ta’ Mena Experience in Xewkija, Gozo.

The artist its renowned for his versatility in the figurative and abstract idioms, this time around he is presenting thirteen paintings with a common theme – Gozitan landscapes. And though the places depicted are familiar and recognisable with their distinct traits, they come with a difference…..

Red has become the dominant colour and features thoroughly in this collection of work. Red tends to radiate warmth to his paintings, but according to the artist himself, it might as well heighten a sense of drama in the depiction of a particular theme.

He said that, “one might question whether the apparent serene and timeless interpretations are veiling a tragic and emblematic reality. The paintings, devoid of any human appearance or activity, might suggest the threat to local scenery manifested by continuous speculation and uncontrolled urbanisation.”Saliba usually begins his paintings with random and impulsive marks that eventually evolve into familiar forms in such a way that figurative elements materialise as a kind of “found” art. A tool in the loosening of gesture and, thus, of his link to nature, is the Surrealists “automatic” painting technique.

With fifteen years of dedicated practice, Saliba said that he is convinced that significant images proceed from an inner intensity. His visual compositions moved gradually from a commitment to the rational structures of nature towards the freer brushwork and spatial organisation of colour.

“I often depart from a sketchy representation of the surrounding environment; its visual data are just a pretext for me to start a painting. These simply ignite a whole process that leads to something which is relatively and intrinsically diverse from its original source,” said the artist.

Saliba added, “I consider my purer and unconditional renderings as my best examples of landscape painting. My latest challenge was that of pushing further the boundaries of landscape representation by exalting the colour red and manifesting its affinity to my inner world.”

Red is The Colour by Christopher Saliba is open at the Ta’ Mena Experience, Triq l-Industrija (Industrial Estate) in Xewkija until the 10th of January, viewing between 10am-8pm.

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