Violence and societal brutality

Vulnerabilities, violence and societal brutality are harsh realities that transcend geographical boundaries. Capturing striking and compelling instants from 12 countries, Street explores a raw transcription of society that pervades both human interactions and physical spaces. Through the shocking juxtaposition of images, this exhibition is a thought-provoking journey in contemporary concerns.

A photographic exhibition titled Street: people and places, featuring some 21 works by Vincent Kraft, will be showing at the upper galleries of the Malta Society of Arts, Palazzo de la Salle, between 31 May and 16 June.

Residing and working in Malta, Vincent was born in France, yet defines himself as a “globetrotter”. Through his many travels, he has developed an extensive body of work – a curated selection of which is being presented at Palazzo de la Salle as his debut show on the island.

Vincent’s work betrays an intense preoccupation with light and shade as well as positive and negative space. His images range from minimalist to exuding a sense of horror vacui. Quiet, dilapidated and abandoned spaces abound in his work, which often contains a tinge of the absurd, poignant, inexplicable or surreal.

Having studied art and photography at the Ipesaa in France, Vincent embarked on an ongoing discovery that has taken him through 50 countries and across 200,000km. He is intrigued by the themes of instantaneity, perspectives and the temporal nature of abandoned places.

Over the years, his artwork has been featured in prestigious photography books and various international exhibitions in London, Cardiff, Paris and Valletta. Kraft was also the recipient of the Prize of the Public Award at the London Photo Festival and he has recently received recognition from Valletta 2018, European Capital of Culture.

Street is a collaboration between Kraft and design/curatorial team comprising Anthony Galea and Lisa Gwen.