Official opening of the 2020 BOV Celia Borg Cardona retrospective art exhibition
The 27th BOV Retrospective Art Exhibition featuring 29 works of art by contemporary artist Celia Borg Cardona was officially inaugurated on 31 January by President George Vella. The exhibition is being hosted by Bank of Valletta at the Gran Salon in the Museum of Archaeology, Auberge de Provence in Valletta.
Addressing the guests present at the ceremony, BOV chairman Deo Scerri said: “The BOV Retrospective Exhibition is in its 27th edition. Through it we are celebrating the works of Celia Borg Cardona and her bold, vigorous and expressive brushworks. I am honoured to present to you a collection of works from the intense artistic journey of a person who has dedicated herself to her art, described as a social commentary of modern behaviours.”
“Bank of Valletta’s Retrospective Art Exhibitions pay tribute to distinguished Maltese artists,” said Scerri. “Borg Cardona is the latest in the series of modern contemporary artists who left a mark on the Maltese artistic scene. She joins the most famous artists of our islands like Ray Pitre, Anthony Calleja and Debbie Caruana Dingli. The works of art on display span from 2002 to the present day.”
Born in 1957 in the UK, Borg Cardona is a pharmacy graduate but her passion for painting led her to eventually abandon the profession. She studied at the Malta School of Art and Anthony Calleja’s studio for several years. Having resisted doing so for many years, in 2004 she started exhibiting her work and has never looked back. Her art is usually concerned with the unusual viewpoint, very often of groups of people seen from a high viewpoint either casually strolling in streets or engaged in group activities such as processions and band marches. She has turned her eye to Maltese streetscapes and buildings, including iconic ones such as the new parliament while it was still under construction.
Borg Cardona stated: “It’s a great privilege to have this exhibition organised by Bank of Valletta, allowing me to join the ranks of respected artists who have featured over the past years. A look back at the thrilling, enjoyable and happy journey my painting life has been for me, at least so far.” Borg Cardona thanked curator Francesca
Balzan for the wonderful job she did.
During her intervention, Balzan spoke about Borg Cardona’s inspirational work and the gripping impact it leaves upon its viewers. “This is a retrospective that shows how Celia Borg Cardona has evolved through the years, showing her true passion – sweeping views, often of Maltese landscapes, occasionally unusual and topical subject matter and extreme viewpoints with energetic lines of force expressed in a bold palette.”
As in past editions, Borg Cardona’s retrospective exhibition is being accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue including a biographical synopsis and reproductions in colour of all the exhibits on display.
The exhibition remains open to the general public until 4 March. The opening hours are from
Monday to Sunday between 9am and 5pm (last admission at 4.30pm).
Gallery Walks with Celia Borg Cardona will be held on 10 February at 10am and 11 February at 1pm. The artist herself will be giving a guided tour around her exhibition. Registration for the Gallery Walks is required. Interested individuals may register by sending an email to pr@bov.com