The Gozo Ministry Exhibition Hall is bursting with energy, colours and creativity as students from the Gozo College Boys’ Secondary School, have come together to produce a collective exhibition entitled ‘Roots.’ http://www.exhibitionandtradeshow.com/

1. ‘Roots’ collective
Secondary School
exhibition
by
Gozo
College
Boys’
The Gozo Ministry Exhibition Hall is bursting with energy, colours and creativity as
students from the Gozo College Boys’ Secondary School, have come together to
produce a collective exhibition entitled ‘Roots.’
The exhibition has been organsed by the School’s Art Teachers – Christopher Saliba,
Martin Attard and Paul Grech.
These young students ranging from twelve-year-olds to fifteen- year-olds with a
teenage perspective of life were driven to exhibit their works with enthusiasm and
the lack of inhibition that comes with adolescence.
The use of mixed media is prominent, and as visitors to the exhibition enter the hall
they are met by a swirl of colours, from both sculptural works and 2D artworks.
Most paintings are more or less the same size, on paper or canvas and have been
framed by the students themselves.
There is still the smell of fresh paint from the art pieces, the application of colours
is fresh, young and at times naïve. Writing about the exhibition Carmen Sciberras
Sultana said tha,t “looking at these works is like looking through a lens into the
future of each and every student. Some works, more than others, promote
promising young artists who may someday be recognised for their artistic skills.”
Figure www.exhibitionandtradeshow.com

2. “There is a diversity of genres and styles presented, varying from portraits and
abstract works to Gozitan landscape interpretations which capture and depict the
best angles of the island. A landscape painting is easily missed for a random
collage. Different materials and cuttings from photos and pictures amalgamate well
with the student’s own painting to create a very unique landscape. Influences by
both local and international renowned artists can also be witnessed in these
students’ artworks.”
Techniques vary from ink and pencil, to airbrush, watercolour, acrylic and pastels.
The few airbrush artworks are very strong and eye-catching for their mastering of
details, though one might unjustly not appreciate them enough for not being as
free and expressive as other gestural works. These works in particular, create a
sharp contrast with the meticulous yet unrestricted dripping of paints on various
surfaces. This is reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism and the technique developed
by one of its main exponents – Jackson Pollock.
Carmen said that among the sculptures exhibited, visitors can see small and
delicate creations in terracotta. Other more prominent sculptures are mostly
experimental in concept. “They look very sophisticated despite being structured by
materials which the students have collected and recycled by putting them together
to create interesting free-standing sculptures that allow the viewer to walk around
them.”
Wooden pieces which seem to have been picked up randomly from a carpenter’s
workshop are put together in a very balanced manner. Positive and negative spaces
create and form interesting shapes and let the viewer’s imagination to roam in a
fantasy world. The colours used appear as if they have been applied before the
pieces of wood were assembled together. Yet, like a jigsaw puzzle they are fitted in
place to generate a magical combination of vibrant and varied shapes.
It is surprising how flourishing young artists in the process of learning can together
produce an exhibition of such a good level, Carmen said.
Their Art teachers, Attard Martin, Grech Paul and Christopher Saliba, are behind all
this and have been of huge support to them. “No wonder, this helps students to
boost their confidence and improve their learning.”
‘Roots’ was inaugurated by the Education Minister, Evarist Bartolo, in the presence
of the Gozo Minister Dr. Anton Refalo, the Gozo College Principal Victor Galea and
the school headmaster Dr. Frank Abela.

3. The exhibition remains open to the public until the 23rd of February, oening hours
are Weekdays 8.30am-4.30pm.