The Alfred Chircop Trust—comprising Joseph Azzopardi, Pierre Bugeja, Clinton V. Calleja, Paul Haber, and Charlene Vella—proudly presents the first major exhibition of the late Maltese abstract painter Alfred Chircop since his passing in 2015.

Titled “…the struggle seems to be eternal” Alfred Chircop: Paintings, Prints, Drawings, this exhibition is being held at Spazju Kreattiv and offers a profound exploration of Chircop’s artistic journey, revealing the complexities and inner turmoil that characterised his life’s work.

Curated by Dr Christian Attard, Dr Mark Sagona, and Dr Charlene Vella from the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, the exhibition provides a rare opportunity to engage with the diverse facets of Chircop’s artistic legacy. The curators have meticulously selected works that not only showcase Chircop’s technical mastery but also his deep philosophical and spiritual inquiries. This exhibition is more than a retrospective; it is an invitation to step into the mind of one of Malta’s most enigmatic artists and experience the eternal struggle that defined his life and work.

The exhibition’s title, drawn from a letter Chircop wrote to his friend and art critic Emmanuel Fiorentino, encapsulates the relentless, introspective struggle that permeated his work. Chircop’s art was a continuous quest to reconcile opposites: the human with the divine, abstraction with figuration, and surface beauty with expressive depth. The works on display offer viewers a glimpse into the soul of an artist whose search for meaning was both Sisyphean and deeply personal.

Organised into five thematic sections, the exhibition delves into Chircop’s artistic evolution, from portraiture and his academic formation in Malta and abroad to his shift toward non-representational, abstract art, culminating in his large-scale abstract paintings—hallmarks of his legacy. A highlight of the exhibition is the recreation of Chircop’s studio, featuring his personal items and the last painting he completed before his death. Visitors will also experience an immersive video documentary by Charlie Cauchi, providing deeper insight into Chircop’s inspirations and complex thoughts.

To offer historical context, each section will feature works by Chircop’s contemporaries, tracing the broader artistic environment in which he worked. The exhibition is supported by Heritage Malta, Prevarti Art Restoration and Conservation, DB Foundation, The Farsons Foundation, Mapfre MSV Life, and Visit Malta, with photography by Lisa Attard and logistical support by Prevarti.

The exhibition runs until 3 November at Space A, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, with an exhibition catalogue launching on 24 October. Admission is free.