Mirror, Mirror: Art Explores Self and Image in Malta

In the heart of Valletta, at the MUŻA, a curious exhibit greets visitors. It’s a mirror, but not as you know it. This one reflects not just your image, but also the room behind you, distorted, fragmented, and layered. It’s a fitting introduction to ‘Self as Image, Image as Self’, a thought-provoking exploration of identity and perception through art.

Reflections of Identity

Curated by Dr. Keith Sciberras, this exhibition delves into the complex relationship between self and image. It’s a journey that begins with the self-portraits of local artist Michele Fenech. Her works, like ‘Self-Portrait with Red Hair’ (2019), are not mere reflections but explorations of her inner self, her emotions, and her experiences.

Fenech’s works are followed by those of Italian artist Roberto Collina, whose ‘Fotogrammi’ series uses photography and light to create abstract self-portraits. These are not images of Collina, but representations of his presence, his energy, his ‘being’.

Malta’s Mirrored History

Malta’s history is a mix influences, a mirror reflecting the cultures that have shaped it. This exhibition reflects that too. Works by Maltese artists like Stephen Mic Raffael and Marie Gatt sit alongside those from Italy, France, and beyond.

Mic Raffael’s ‘Self-Portrait as a Young Man’ (1992) is a stark, powerful image of the artist as a young gay man in Malta, a time when such identities were often hidden. Gatt’s ‘Mirror, Mirror’ (2021) is a digital collage that explores the female gaze, the image of women, and the power dynamics at play.

Beyond the Mirror

But this exhibition is not just about self-portraits. It’s about how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us, and how images shape our identities. Works like Michele Fenech‘s ‘Self-Portrait as a Monster’ (2020) challenge our perceptions, our prejudices, our comfort zones.

The exhibition ends with a powerful installation by French artist Laurence Bonvin. ‘The Mirror’ (2014) is a room filled with mirrors, each reflecting not just the viewer, but also the light, the space, the other mirrors. It’s a fitting end to a thought-provoking exhibition, a reminder that we are not just what we see, but also what we reflect.

So, if you’re in Valletta, pop into MUŻA. Look into the mirror. See yourself, see the room, see the art, see Malta. See the world reflected in you, and you reflected in the world.