An invitation to The Big Show
Allura Art - The Big Show.
We are very pleased to invite art-lovers to The Big Show, Allura Art’s first major collective exhibition, at the historic Wignacourt Museum in Rabat.
The Big Opening - Join us!
The Big Opening will be held on Friday November 19 from 7.30pm - 10.30pm. You are invited to join us and the show’s artists for an evening of art, drinks, nibbles, friends and live music.
COVID-19 event regulations require you to register and show your vaccination certificates. The good news is that entry is free and registration is quick and easy. We’d love to see you, so don’t let registering put you off. Register here.
Read all about the show below…
An original painting by Christine Porter Lofaro being prepared for exhibition
The story behind the show
Almost a year has passed since the Allura Art collection launched in December 2020. Given the COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time, a physical launch event could not be held. Now, eleven months on, and with an ever-growing cohort of local artists on board, Allura is pleased to announce its first major collective exhibition. With the easing of restrictions, this group event will be the first opportunity for visitors to enjoy pieces from all twelve artists in the Allura Art Collection together in one place.
The twelve artists taking part in Allura Art - The Big Show
COVID-19 and creativity
COVID-19 has in no way slowed the pace of contemporary fine art in Malta. If anything, local artists have been more prolific than ever, doubling-down on their creative output and using the time as an opportunity to develop their craft and take it to the next level.
Allura Art - The Big Show presents a selection of original paintings by some of Malta and Gozo’s best-loved artists, created, for the most part, during the pandemic. The exhibition features both figurative and abstract pieces, including previously unseen or exhibited work. While much of the artwork falls into the landscape genre and depicts Malta itself, some is more conceptual.
Jo Dounis pictured with her piece Cliffs at Dusk
Each artist is known for his or her own distinctive imagery and pieces have been selected which typify their most recent work. The Big Show is diverse in its subject-matter, which includes the natural and built environment, the cosmos, patriotism, spirituality and the human condition.
Andrew Smith at his easel with his piece Msida Creek in the background
Artist Secrets
The Big Show also features new paintings produced especially for Allura’s Artist Secrets video series, in which it goes behind the scenes to film artists at work in their studios and on location. The series recently followed artists Christopher Saliba, Mark Schembri and Debbie Bonello. During the exhibition the new paintings produced in the series will be displayed publicly for the first time, with the episodes in which they were created screened alongside them. Both the show and the series are part of Allura’s wider Open Studio Programme.
Vania Goshe with her palette knife at her easel
The other Malta-based artists featured in The Big Show are Jo Dounis, Andrew Borg, Rosette Bonello and Christine Porter Lofaro, all Maltese, Andrew Smith, originally from the UK, Vania Goshe and Bogdan Dyulgerov, both Bulgarian, Dagmara Zaczeniuk from Poland and the newest addition to the group, Russian painter Natasha Dadush.
Allura sets out to identify the leading contemporary artists practising in Malta and Gozo, and the Allura Art Collection includes both emerging and established fine artists.
Natasha Dadush pictured with her piece Waiting for the Season
Spotting talent
When it comes to contemporary art in Malta, there is certainly a great deal of activity and output, and we all have an innate sense of what we like and what we think is good. At Allura we like to identify talent and spotlight art that’s worth seeing, so art-lovers can choose for themselves.
At Allura we believe that these are the collectible artists of the future. It’s been a real pleasure for us to have such outstanding artwork to choose from for this exhibition. If you visit The Big Show, we hope you’ll love these exceptional paintings as much as we do.
Andrew Borg pictured with his newest painting Ahrax
Join us!
Join Allura and the artists of the show at The Big Opening on Friday November 19 for an evening of art, culture, drinks, nibbles, friends and live music.
For all other news and updates from Allura, follow the Allura Art blog, join the mailing list or follow the Allura Facebook page.
Hope to see you there!
Allura Art - The Big Opening will take place on Friday November 19 from 7.30pm-10.30pm.
Entry is free of charge but with prior registration. Capacity is limited according to COVID-19 regulations and vaccination certificates will be required. For information and registration details visit the Allura Art Website. Allura Art - The Big Show will run until December 9. Wignacourt Museum opens 9.30am-5pm daily.
The Big Show continues from November 20 - December 9 when the venue’s standard COVID-19 rules will apply. Wignacourt Museum opens 9.30am-5pm daily. Entry to the Big Show is free of charge and not subject to the museum’s entry fee.
Allura Art - The Big Show is part of The Allura Open Art Studios Programme, supported by Arts Council Malta through the Programme Support Scheme, the Melita Foundation, Attard and Co and The Sovereign Art Foundation. Paintings from The Allura Art collection are suitable for homes, offices, commercial spaces or as gifts. One of a kind, authenticated artwork is sold at studio prices direct from the artist, with secure online payment and safe shipping at www.allura-art.com.
The Allura Art Collection is an evolving, curated collection of original paintings, some figurative and some abstract. The Allura Art website features pieces in a variety of genres, styles and sizes to suit home, office or commercial interiors and which also make beautiful and unique gifts. Furthermore, the search by price page makes it easy to browse according to your budget.
The Allura Art collection is regularly updated with new artwork and new artists. To receive updates by email, join our mailing list.
Allura Art deals only in genuine and authenticated originals which are sourced directly from reputable living painters. We offer original fine art at studio prices with secure online payment and safe shipping internationally or local delivery throughout Malta and Gozo. Visit the Allura Art website or find Allura on Facebook or Instagram at @allura_malta. Contact Allura at info@allura.mt or +356 99583389.
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