‘Elective affinity’ at Lily Agius Gallery

This autumn sees the opening of a new exhibition in Malta’s upand-coming art scene. The art collective known as duopunctumstud.io, a collaboration between artists Nadette Clare-Talbot and Caroline O’Callaghan, are launching their exciting debut collection of work, entitled Elective Affinity. On show exclusively from 14 October at the Lily Agius Gallery in Sliema, the exhibition will showcase 12 individual bodies of work centred around the subject of still life, captured in a photographic style more traditionally seen within classic portraiture.

Drawing inspiration from their different artistic backgrounds, Nadette and Caroline began collaborating in Malta in 2019 and ultimately formed their collective, duopunctumstud.io, early this year. Their launch collection, Elective Affinity, showcases their complementary talents which are inspired by a powerful, shared aesthetic. Each of the 12 works showcased in the exhibition began with a visual idea, which was typically developed into a three-dimensional botanically themed sculpture, followed by a live installation and, finally, a photographic image that captures the theatrical magic of their unique artistic approach.

“Punctum is a term used to refer to an incidental but personally poignant detail in a photograph which ‘pierces’ or ‘pricks’ a particular viewer.”

With the duo’s interest in perception and illusion, each body of work seeks to juxtapose disparate subjects. It is this jarring visual experience, a “punctum” for the viewer that the duo seeks to explore from the inception of each individual idea through to the creation of the installation and ultimately a powerful photographic image. Various other themes are also woven into each body of work, some of which are repeated throughout the exhibition. For example, digital references are featured both in terms of lighting techniques that use diverse sources and reflections, as well as the creative placement of projected images. All visual effects are produced in the studio without any post-production trickery, yet each photographic piece has the appearance of a highly veneered post-production aesthetic. All of this is masterfully achieved, creating widely different narratives for the same visual story. The resulting images are unique and a testimony to the technical and artistic skills of this highly talented duo.

“It’s always a satisfying thing to see two artists work so well together and produce a good body of work,” says Lily Agius, the curator of the exhibition. “Nadette and Caroline have been discussing their collaboration for some time, and despite Covid uncertainty, they used it productively to find a new dialogue between them and create something fresh and bold – that of which is neither the style of one or the other but the two of them put together. Their unbridled ambition has resulted in a unique collection of artwork and a stunning show.”

Vanitas explores the contemporary obsession with how we present and preserve our image publicly through social media. The piece depicts a cloche jar, which was a visual signifier commonly used within Old Master still lifes as a symbol of preservation. This cloche dome is empty, preserving nothing but an anonymous digital reflection.

CandyLand is a moment in time, completely still yet teetering on the edge of collapse. The sculptural composition is based on the balance and flow of a classic Japanese Ikebana floral arrangement. In the image, however, the composition is in flux, flung forward and almost exploding out of the frame. The flow and balance within the arrangement are completely disrupted, creating an image that balances chaos and calm.

Pluge is the final studio piece produced by the duo within this collection. The flowers are arranged in accordance with Rikka, the oldest style of Ikebana, and have a calming, balanced quality with muted tones. But this colour palette is boldly contrasted with the bright, garish primary colours of the television test card. Although the symmetry and balance are maintained within the composition, the vivid colours of the test card completely up-end this harmony.

The exhibition opens on the evening of 14 October at Lily Agius Gallery, 54 Cathedral

Street, Sliema. Covid measures apply.

To follow the duo’s story and to learn more about the full exhibition pieces, including behind the scenes, and to view the final photographic images follow them on Instagram @duopunctumstudio.io

For more information, private view, and the catalogue you can contact the gallery by email at info@lily agiusgallery.com or call on +356 9929 2488. You can also view the websites www.lilyagiusgallery.com, www.artsy.net/partner/lilyagius-gallery, www.duopunctumstud.io.

About Nadette and Caroline

Nadette has an extensive background in commercial photography with high-profile clients such as marie claire, Elle Decoration and Glamour. This followed her training with a degree in Photography and extensive experience in all photographic formats. Nadette later transitioned into fine art photography following a relocation from South Africa with a successful debut solo exhibition entitled Lacey and Lace in 2016 in Malta under the curatorship of Claude Camilleri. Caroline studied Fine Art and History of Art at Goldsmiths University. She went on to a career at Christie’s auction house in London. Her love of flowers was never far away, as she went on to train and work as a florist in 2002 in Greenwich, London. She has come full circle combining all aspects of her training.