Renowned local artist Patrick Dalli’s exhibition Landforms opens on Thursday 21 July at the Art Galleries of the Malta Society of Arts (MSA) in Valletta

The exhibition will present a new body of work consisting of around 25 large, stylised, oil-on-linen paintings, representing the artist’s personal impression and interpretation of local landscapes.

Dalli says that the seed for this exhibition was planted during a conversation with the exhibition’s curator, Roderick Camilleri. “At the time, I was just beginning to work on a new body of large paintings that revolved around landscapes,” comments the artist. “That conversation stimulated me to keep on creating and present these works to the public through a solo exhibition.”

Dalli’s new collection uses a bright palette of colours to portray his abstracted landscapes. “I work very spontaneously using a selection of colours which are usually ready at hand,” explains Dalli about his process. “My favourite colours are ultramarine blue, cobalt violet, emerald green, yellow ochre and carmine. I often include carmine in my paintings. However, I never limit myself to any particular set of colours, as I am always open to try different hues.”

After that conversation with Dalli, Camilleri continued to work hand-in-hand with the artist. “In my role as a curator, I had to weave together different elements such as content, selection, design and presentation, in order to present an engaging and stimulating experience to the public,” he divulges. “The exhibition will feature a unique series of large-scale paintings expressing colour fields and stylised compositions, representing forceful landforms. Moreover, it will be the first showcase of Dalli’s fresh work which characterises his new thematic and painterly approach.”