We’re always recommending people look up when out and about in Malta, whether as locals or visitors. There’s so much incredible architectural detail we miss just above our heads. But, there’s also a whole new world to see by looking down – on us, going about our daily lives, seen from above.
Here's looking at you, baby! A Celia Borg Cardona canvas: 'Height of the Tourist Season'.
This perceptive angle is the one that Celia Borg Cardona takes in her latest exhibition ‘Scene from Above’, that runs until the end of November in Rabat, at the Camilleri Paris Mode showroom.
We happened to catch it last weekend while on an errand in the area, and recommend you do too. Her canvases are mostly gigantic, and make you feel you are in the scene, peering down. I particularly liked the church door half open with passers-by hurrying along outside in the street. Such a routine daily scene, that normally wouldn’t warrant a glance – but not under Celia’s scrutiny.
What they say about the Exhibition
Groups and clusters of people going about their daily life continue to intrigue Celia Borg Cardona. While their geographical location serves as an interesting backdrop, the emphasis is more on the space the people occupy and the way that this impacts on their relationship with each other. There is an intrinsic importance given to the negative space around the figures, with the background very often being a dramatic black or a stark white.
The scene is usually seen from above as many of them are painted from a high viewpoint. Celia’s preferred medium is oil on canvas which, whenever possible, is as large as possible. These paintings reflect every day scenes in which people are captured in their most natural stance since they are totally unaware that they are being observed from above.
Viewing times
The paintings can be viewed during shop hours at Camilleri Paris Mode in Rabat till end November. The CPM workshop is a wonderful place to linger anyway amid ‘to-die-for’ interiors. The staff hover around offering you coffee – such a treat in a retail store these days!
Where?
Camilleri Paris Mode is near the old Verdala Hotel in Rabat. For map, click here.
See also: camilleriparismode.com.