Following the exhibition Wiċċ Imb Wiċċ held in April 2021, a dear friend came around requesting a family portrait that would imitate the style. The portrait features the husband, wife, daughter, grandmother, grandfather and dog. It reflects upon, story-tells and uncovers the terminology of family by giving an ephemeral form to all the intergenerational and interracial facets that make up that which we call family.
Mizzi never endorsed Caruana Galizia’s journalism, especially due to statements deemed offensive by Maltese individuals with a leftist political philosophy. This sentiment was shared by many. While some, including the artist, opted to boycott her blog, others targeted the journalist with harsh comments and even demonization.
When the events of October 16th unfolded, some were not surprised while others were shocked. The artist remembers being at work at the Valletta 2018 Foundation when the news broke. Most colleagues present at the office were horrified, but some were almost relieved.
The artwork, with its sharp cut that seems to tear Caruana Galizia apart, reflects the stark divide between these two groups. For some, the cut represents a victory over a perceived enemy, while for others, it is a painful reminder of the violence and hatred that has torn their society apart.
Despite its potent symbolism, the artwork failed to attract any buyers when it was auctioned off at the 2021 Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation online art auction. Nevertheless, it has since gained international recognition and was featured in a 2022 documentary about Malta’s contemporary issues titled “Malta: Small islands, big issues for Europe” by France 24. The documentary is presented by France 24’s European affairs editor Catherine Nicholson, produced by Johan Bodin, filmed on location by Stéphane Bodin, with Luke Brown.
In December 2022, the artwork also received a certificate of artistic achievement in the Luxembourg Art Prize 2022, underscoring its significance as a poignant commentary on the challenges facing Maltese society today.
In October 2023, Mizzi bestowed ‘Daphne’ upon the Office of the President of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where it became part of the permanent collection.
Last Tuesday, one of the greatest artists our world has ever known passed into the next phase of the existence he so profoundly contemplated through every breath of his earthly life.
Following my spontaneous words in honour of this immortal genius, I offer here a visual tribute to Franco Battiato’s luminous spirit, a limited edition print born from gratitude and admiration.
Its warm, radiant hues reflect Battiato’s thirst for Truth, a truth he pursued through music, poetry, and silence alike. His art was a living testament to passion, transcendence, and the courage to seek meaning within an increasingly alienated world.
Thank you, Maestro. May we all listen.
A commissioned work for a highly esteemed client.
The concept behind Wiċċ Imb Wiċċ emerged during reflective discussions with curator Melanie Erixon in 2020. We revisited an earlier project from my time at the University of Malta, where I explored constructing digital portraits through layered depictions of the same face. However, this iteration carried a new urgency, informed by the unprecedented disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic altered every facet of our lives, challenging how we connect, experience intimacy, and define our collective and personal identities. Against this backdrop, I initiated The (Facebook) Portrait Project II – Fading Social Distancing on December 27, 2020. It was a global experiment in collective portraiture, inviting individuals to share their digital likenesses and reflections on social distancing. The response was overwhelming—363 participants from diverse backgrounds contributed to the project, symbolically capturing humanity’s universal yearning for connection.
Each group of ten participants was represented through a unique digital portrait, created by re-appropriating their Facebook profile pictures. These portraits blurred the boundaries between personal and collective identities, sparking conversations on how isolation reshaped our social fabric. Participants used the platform to share their thoughts on social distancing, creating a mosaic of perspectives that reflected both the challenges and resilience of the human spirit.
The resulting thirty-seven portraits were reproduced on aluminium dibond and showcased at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba during my third solo exhibition in April 2021. This project invited viewers to question: Who are we when we come together? How do we make sense of connection in a world defined by distance?
Dr Alex Grech, an expert in social sciences and digital culture, provided valuable insights into the project’s deeper implications. He highlighted the duality of social media as a space for connection and performance, noting how it has both amplified and fragmented our identities. His reflections underscored the paradox of seeking validation within the collective while navigating the blurred boundaries of selfhood.
In 2024, Wiċċ Imb Wiċċ took on a new life when I was invited to participate in Natale ConNoi, an international exhibition in Naples. Hosted at the historic Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, the event was a fundraiser for CasaBalena, a residency for children. A selection of twelve works from the series were recontextualised to explore themes of peace, unity, and the human need for togetherness. This exhibition offered an opportunity to reflect on how art can transcend its origins and contribute to broader conversations about connection and solidarity in times of disruption.
While the original exhibition at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq has long concluded, the themes explored in Wiċċ Imb Wiċċ remain profoundly relevant. The project continues to evolve, inviting audiences to consider the ways we forge connection and collective identity in an ever-changing world.
For inquiries or bookings, please contact info@pawlumizzi.com.
External Links
25 April 2021 – The intimacy among strangers – Joseph Agius, Times of Malta
22 April 2021 – Interview for Illum ma’ Steph
16 April 2021 – Interview for Meander
7 April 2021 – Interview for Maltarti
30 December 2020 – A social exercise of portrait creation, The Times of Malta
Live Exhibition walk through by ARTZ ID
City Gate is a live radio show on Radio City 98FM which I conducted starting January 2021. The latter is hosted under the auspices and at the premises of the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette in Valletta.
The name of the show recalls the memory of us Valletta people meeting up friends or holding romantic dates at City Gate – the main gate of the city and whereabouts – back in the 90s. Each show is a two hour catch up meeting with a friend, acquaintance or personality, which is made public through radio waves and eventually, the internet.
City Gate promotes a lighthearted discourse about life in the community with a special reference to the city of Valletta and its people. It is also meant to act as a document recounting the experiences of the guests who honour me with their presence and personal story-telling.
This captivating portrait teeters on the edge of abstraction, featuring a young woman in profile with bold, contrasting hues that imbue the composition with depth and complexity. The use of alternating white brushstrokes and black splashes and daubs creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, drawing the viewer’s eye in a captivating search for revelation. This digital portrait is a work of art, designed to provoke contemplation and reflection in the viewer.
One of the most striking aspects of this artwork is the composition’s handling of the lady’s facial features. The face seems to melt into the brightest area, creating a sense of immersion in a radiant light. The delicate white strokes add a touch of sophistication to the piece, evoking silver linings or shining reflections. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the artist has sought to capture the psychology of a woman in the throes of transitioning from youth to adulthood. The shifting color palette, moving from the mournful reds to cooler blues and brighter, more hopeful whites, speaks to the complexities of emotional and spiritual growth.
The three limited edition prints of ‘Dak li int’ have found homes in three distinct art collections, two in Malta and one in Ireland, testifying to its universal appeal.
Disconnection with a loved counterpart entails a process of yearning and letting go followed by hope or grief. Lullaby is a work about a state of disconnection, a state of sleep/flux in which the burning fire of desire sleeps but slowly sheds light on unforeseen revelations. The work was greatly inspired by the song Lulluby by American indie rock band Low.
“Cross over and turnFeel the spot don’t let it burnWe all want we all yearnBe soft don’t be sternLullabyWas not supposed to make you cryI sang the words I meantI sang”
The focal point of this artistic endeavor revolves around the embodiment of feminine grandeur as perceived through the lens of an ardent admirer. Its inception was sparked by an evocative remark stumbled upon on July 27, within the comment section of the “ifwekissed” Instagram profile:
“i got so lost in her details. The shape of her lips. The way her hair falls on her shoulders. The way the light brighten her eyes. The way her smile forms when she looks at me. Didn’t matter who was in the room – she was all I saw.”
This profound statement starkly juxtaposes the common English idiom “elephant in the room,” which alludes to a weighty subject, question, or contentious matter that is palpable to all, yet meticulously avoided to evade discomfort or unease. Irrespective of any controversy or disquietude, an authentic lover will forever acknowledge and celebrate the resplendence of their beloved.
The creative process was further accompanied by the music Elephant Woman by Blonde Redhead which was discovered on July 27 and which accopanied the conceptual creation of this artwork.
The female figure contemplates her fragile existence by holding and meditating over the suspended life of a plant shoot. Nonetheless, the anemone flower adorning the figure’s head augurs a prosperous future.
This work is inspired by the thematic of Anemone (2016), as a follow up to the Kobba phase and a first move towards new artistic territories.
Daphne
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The Death of Malta
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Her Majesty
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Kobba
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Consumatum Est
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