Contemporary Maltese Artist Etienne Farrell Unveils Unblinking
Th exhibition is open for viewings until Saturday 27 June between 7:00pm-9:30pm at Church of St Mary Magdalene, Valletta.
Contemporary Maltese artist Etienne Farrell presents Unblinking, a multidisciplinary exhibition that brings together cultural, historical, mythological and emotional perspectives on vision. Set within the historic Church of St Mary Magdalene in Valletta, the exhibition invites audiences into a layered exploration of perception, observation, vulnerability, power and the unseen. Through sculpture, painting and installation, Unblinking moves between the precision of an unwavering gaze and the blind spots that shape belief, emotion and judgement.
Drawing on ancient symbolism, spiritual traditions and contemporary mythology, Farrell examines vision as both revelation and illusion, vulnerability and control. Throughout the exhibition, the eye emerges as an instrument of observation, communication and influence, as well as a gateway to hidden realities.
Farrell is widely recognised for creating work that explores cultural, emotional and social narratives through a multidisciplinary practice. Central to her approach is the active role of the viewer. Rather than presenting audiences as passive observers, her exhibitions invite them to become participants, where movement, perception and personal interpretation are fundamental to the experience. Each visitor contributes to the meaning of the work through their own presence and engagement.
This philosophy is embedded in every aspect of Unblinking. Transparent materials are used throughout the exhibition design, encouraging visitors to look through, beyond and between translucent surfaces, while subtly questioning the reliability of perception itself. Carefully orchestrated lighting draws attention to particular areas of the church, quietly guiding visitors through the space as though they were performers within an unfolding narrative.
Looking becomes an active process of discovery, transforming perception into an integral part of the artwork. Farrell’s curatorial decisions extend beyond the artworks themselves to the choice of venue. Highly selective about where she exhibits, she sought a setting that would resonate with the spiritual and conceptual language of Unblinking. The deconsecrated church provides an evocative backdrop, its architecture and layered history reinforcing one of the exhibition’s central themes: the relationship between what is visible and what remains concealed. Complementing the visual installation is a subtle performative element developed in collaboration with theatre director Patrick Vella. Integrated seamlessly into the exhibition, these live interventions heighten the immersive atmosphere and further blur the boundaries between artwork, space and audience.
