Maltese Artist & Curator To Exhibit Works In Solo Dublin Show
Malta’s leading artist Gabriel Buttiġieġ is set to exhibit a new series of works in his first solo show in Dublin, Ireland.
Curated with the spirit of cultural diplomacy between Malta and Ireland by Dublin based art historian and curator, AnneMarie Saliba, Sheela / Sansun(a): Bridging Islands combines the stories of two powerful figures in Irish and Maltese history: the mysterious Irish figure, the Sheela na gig, and the prehistoric Maltese giantess, Sansuna.
Adopting a new vibrant expressionistic style in his paintings, Buttiġieġ uses Sheela and Sansuna to embody his ardent and profound interest in the human condition.
His work primarily deals with birth and motherhood. Traced back to the 11th century, the Sheela Na Gig, a depiction of a figure pulling open an exaggerated vulva, was possibly a symbol for fertility worship, or a symbol to stray off evil or a warning against lust.
Sansuna, also a mother figure, is the heroic giantess who carried megaliths across the island of Gozo, building the Ġgantija Temples in 3600 BC. Carrying her half-human, half-giant children on her shoulder and balancing a slab of stone on her head, she constructed this temple complex to evoke fertility and rain.
Buttiġieġ merges illustrations of Sheela and Sansuna, with imagery of primitive symbolism, vivid language, and visuals related to video games and films, which have brought the artist back to his childhood and early days of drawing.
Buttiġieġ’s work also deals with the notion of the feminine, not as a concept that is traditionally associated with qualities or behaviours of the female gender, but as a spirit or feeling that goes beyond our conscious psyche.
Through the ambiguity surrounding Sheela’s beginnings, historical significance, and purpose, and Sansuna’s androgynous qualities, Buttiġieġ has crafted a new tale.
It highlights the sexual nature of the human body and invites us to question and challenge socially constructed definitions of gender that have shaped human societies for hundreds of years.
In Sheela / Sansun(a): Bridging Islands, Gabriel Buttiġieġ combines the past and the present to create new narratives that resist convention. While paying a powerful tribute to Sheela Na Gig and Sansuna, he addresses fundamental questions and concepts which humans have grappled with since the beginning of time.
This project is generously supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, Cultural Diplomacy Fund.
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About the Artists
Gabriel Buttigieg (b. 1993) is a visual artist based in Malta, who focuses primarily on drawing and painting. Buttigieg considers the world to be his native country and hence his artwork reflects various universal themes. He explores primordial, tribal, Mediterranean and, Grecian, myths and legends, conceptualising them in a contemporary context through a psychological lens. Selected solo and collective exhibitions include ‘Paintings’ (MT); ‘Nudes’ (MT); ‘The Droplet’ (MT); ‘Saudade’ (MT); ‘The Beach’ (MT/PL); ‘Darkness at Noon’ (MT); “{V}” (MT); ‘Dialogs2020 A Contemporary Connection’ (IT); ‘Genesis’ (UK); ‘Spring Virtual Exhibition’ (CY); ‘CloverMill Artist Residency’ (NL); ‘Autumn Virtual Exhibition’ (CY); ‘Facade’ (IN); ‘#1 Arts in Square (CA); ‘Art Interrupted’ (MT); ‘Identity of an Island’ (MT); ‘The Four Seasons A Reflection of Archetypal Imagery’ (MT); ‘Art on a Postcard(s)’ (UK); ‘Hogchester Arts – Artist Residency’ (UK); ‘YUN&GAB – A Performative Installation’ (MT); ‘Narratives for Postmodern Love’ (MT); ‘fabricATE’ (MT); ‘SĦANA’ (MT); and ‘The Spazju Kreattiv Art Collection (25th Anniversary Initiative )’ (MT).
He has recently been featured in various international publications, namely ‘Wall StreetInternational’ (USA); ‘Wall Street International’ (FR); ‘ArtDependence Magazine’ (BE); ‘ArtsTalk Magazine’ (NL);
and ‘Impeached Magazine’ (CH).
Gabriel Buttigieg has successfully read for a Bachelors in Psychology at the University of Malta, graduating with Distinction. He has also obtained a Masters in Fine Arts by Research at the University of Malta.
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AnneMarie Saliba is an art historian and curator from Malta based in Dublin. She holds an MA in Art History, Collections and Curating from University College Dublin and a B.A in English and Psychology from the University of Malta.
She specialises in modern and contemporary art history and curating, and is the current Assistant Collections Curator in Hugh Lane Gallery, and Co-Director of TØN Gallery. Her main interests are the history of early 20th century collections of modern art, the development of the modern art market and the evolving role of women artists throughout history.
Over the past five years, AnneMarie has contributed to several displays and exhibitions in Hugh Lane Gallery and has worked on various projects in museums and galleries across Malta, Italy and Ireland, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and as curatorial assistant of the Malta Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale.
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