Joseph Farrugia, former Director General of the Malta Employers' Association, has opened an intimate gallery space at his home in Attard – the result of a decades-long artistic journey and a desire to reconnect with both his own work and a broader audience.
“I feel very content to have finally launched this project,” Mr Farrugia tells WhosWho.mt on the new space, which functions as both gallery and archive. He explains that the move was motivated by a growing need to better preserve and organise the artworks he has accumulated over the past 40 years.
As a practising visual artist, he described how difficult storage can be, with works often “stacked and in a state of neglect” unless given proper space.
The Attard gallery now serves as an extension of his studio. Visitors, he said, will not only experience the finished works but also “the process and atmosphere in which these works are created." And unlike traditional gallery showings – which he notes take years to secure and are often costly – this new setup provides a flexible, ongoing way to display and discuss his work on a more personal level.
His art is deeply reflective, with pieces often described as visual meditations. While he explores specific themes, such as The Juggler series exhibited at the Malta Society of Arts earlier this year, Mr Farrugia says his work is unified by something deeper. “I feel that most of my works are interconnected through a 'spiritual fingerprint' that defines one's identity throughout his/her lifetime,” he explained, adding that his canvases represent a “continuous voyage of self-discovery.”
Stepping down from the Malta Employer’s top post has afforded Mr Farrugia more time in the studio – but not necessarily to produce more work. “The relationship between time and output is not so straight forward in art,” he reflects. Instead, he now has greater “time to research, to digest thoughts, meditate and focus,” something he sees as essential to the creative process.
Looking ahead, the artist hopes that the space becomes more than just a personal archive or private gallery. He welcomes intimate viewings, conversations, and gatherings. “I would especially look forward to meet small groups of art students,” he says, hoping that the space can “perhaps, in some small way, be a source of inspiration for them.”
Visitors may request a viewing by appointment, while Mr Farrugia also plans to share more of his journey online. Ultimately, he sees this as a “continuous reaching out exercise,” both on a physical and digital level – and a fresh chapter in a life spent balancing business leadership with personal expression.
