Imagine strolling along the bustling Republic Street in Valletta, the sun casting a warm glow on the historic buildings. Now, picture that same scene, but the street is empty, the buildings are mere outlines, and the sun is a soft, ethereal presence. This is the world of Josette Fenech, a Maltese artist whose work blurs the lines between reality and dreamscape.

Josette’s work is a testament to her unique perspective, one that transforms familiar Maltese landscapes into liminal spaces. Her paintings, often featuring empty streets and buildings reduced to their basic forms, are a blend of the local and the otherworldly. “I’ve always been drawn to the quiet moments in our cities,” she explains, “the in-between times when the hustle and bustle fades, and you’re left with just the architecture and the atmosphere.”

Her studio, tucked away in a quiet corner of Birkirkara, is a stark contrast to the vibrant streets she often paints. Here, she creates her hauntingly beautiful works, using a mix of oil paints and digital techniques to achieve her signature style. “I like to think of my work as a dialogue between the physical and the digital,” she says, “a conversation between the real world and the world of the imagination.”

Josette’s work is deeply rooted in Malta’s urban scene. From the grand arches of the Auberge de Castille to the humble doorways of the Three Cities, her paintings capture the essence of Malta’s architecture. Yet, they are not mere replicas. Instead, they are interpretations, imbued with a sense of mystery and melancholy.

Her series “Echoes of Valletta” is a prime example of this. Each painting in the series features an empty street or square in Valletta, the city’s grand buildings reduced to simple shapes and lines. The effect is both eerie and captivating, a visual representation of the city’s history and the passage of time.

Josette’s work also reflects the digital age. She uses photography as a starting point for many of her paintings, capturing the essence of a scene before transforming it into a digital sketch. This sketch is then refined and developed using digital painting tools, creating a unique blend of traditional and digital techniques.

This approach allows Josette to explore her subjects in a way that might not be possible with traditional painting alone. “I can experiment with different compositions, colors, and textures,” she explains, “and I can also create pieces that would be impossible to paint by hand, like my ‘Glitch’ series, which features distorted, digital glitches overlaid onto my paintings.”

Josette’s work is not just about creating beautiful, thought-provoking pieces. It’s also about engaging with the community. She regularly hosts workshops and exhibitions, inviting others to explore their own interpretations of the world around them.

“I believe that art has the power to challenge our perceptions and inspire us to see the world in new ways,” she says. “That’s why I love sharing my work and teaching others about the creative process. I want to encourage people to explore their own liminal landscapes, to find the beauty in the in-between spaces of their own lives.”

Her next exhibition, “Liminal Spaces,” will be held at the Malta School of Art in February. The exhibition will feature a selection of her latest works, including pieces inspired by the quiet corners of Mdina and the silent streets of Rabat.