Attention ceramics enthusiasts! The Malta Society of Arts will be hosting one of the largest ceramics exhibitions the islands have seen, titled ‘Clay/Craft/Concept’, starting this Thursday 22nd August at the Art Galleries of Malta Society of Arts’ Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta.

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‘Clay/Craft/Concept’ will bring together the works of 36 talented artists, both local and international, including Gabriel Caruana, Skuja Braden, Stipan Tadić, Paul Scerri, Hae Won Sohn, Leah Kaplan, Francesca Balzan, Caz Hildebrand, and Victor Diacono.

One of the main characteristics of the exhibition is its diversity – both in the works themselves and in the artists presenting them. The featured pieces, which will exceed a whopping 175 in number, range from Neolithic artefacts hailing from Malta’s ancient period (circa 5200-2500 BC) to more contemporary sculptures produced by up-and-coming artists such as Ioulia Chante and the duo THISS.

Visitors can observe the vast array of materials ceramics are formed from, including porcelain, self-drying clay, terracotta, and found objects, while learning about the various production methods artists use to create them, such as wheel-throwing, hand-building, 3D printing, and installation work.

The curator Gabriel Zammit, in fact, emphasises that ‘the primary goal of this exhibition is to explore the various ways of working with clay ... challenging the audience to consider the line between craft and fine art, and whether that distinction truly exists.’

Those attending ‘Clay/Craft/Concept’ can expect to see ‘a mug or bowl by an emerging artist displayed alongside a sculpture by an established name’, Gabriel Zammit adds. To further embrace the idea of enthusiasts alongside established professionals, a clay workshop is being held in conjunction to the exhibition by Martina Farrugia, named ‘Remembering Through Clay’, inviting participants to explore personal memories through the medium of clay.

The exhibition ‘Clay/Craft/Concept’ will run between 22nd August to 26th September, and admission is free. Anyone seeking more information is encouraged to visit the Malta Society of Arts website or Facebook page.

Will you be attending Clay/Craft/Concept in the coming month?