Curatorial Text by Carmen Aquilina

“I realised that the reproduction of nature’s smallest works is just as challenging and rewarding as the study of larger subjects.”  - Maria Sibylla Merian

Documents of Inheritance/Poetics of Desire takes us on a profound exploration of the maltese landscape suggesting that its genuine beauty is in the details – in the fragile patterns and mysterious tales that might be uncovered when we look beneath the surface. It inspires us to strip away the outer layers of the reality in which we exist and to recognise and discover the stories that are imbued in our habitat. Through this exhibition, we are being confronted by the intricate relationships between the environments we shape and the untamed landscapes we inherit. It shifts our focus beyond a reality of craftily landscaped foliage to the boldness and rawness of the wild flora thriving in the crevices and corners found in urban streets.

Bringing together the two artists Scicluna and Ancilleri, Documents of Inheritance/Poetics of Desire is presenting a body of work that is related not by the medium and technique used but by the exploration of nature’s significance. Like a poem, each exhibit invites us to reflect on the balance between human civilisation and untamed flora. Perhaps the vegetation that seems so “intrusive” is not invading at all; instead, it is a subtle parallel that demonstrates humanity’s short-lived existence surrounded by timeless vegetation.

The sources of inspiration also go beyond what is experienced. Indeed, some of Scicluna’s work is inspired by Brian Aldiss’ literary masterpiece ‘Hothouse’, which vividly depicts a world filled with wild plant life.  All her artwork was developed digitally, predominantly composed through the fusion of photography and 3D scans of indigenous wild plants. These were then manipulated using a pen plotter and archival pens, resulting in pieces that evoke the impression of deconstructed maps. In contrast, Ancilleri’s drawings embrace what seems to be a more traditional style where the contemporary approach was used throughout the creative process. Her pieces offer a glimpse into the natural qualities of these plants, focusing on the distinctive qualities that result from gentle pencil strokes and the deliberate exploration of negative space created through a series of layered play.

In a time where the urban areas push further and further into the natural world, this body of work stands as a representation of an experienced reality. It encompasses the essence of continuity reflected in the fabric of our life, just as it hints at our belonging in nature’s everlasting existence. Documents of Inheritance/Poetics of Desire invites us to slow down, be in the moment and allow ourselves to have a more conscious view of the surrounding world and our role within it.