The Malta Independent on Sunday
Exploring the depths of materiality and memory
‘Above all, [the artist] must not be afraid to return again and again to the same matter; to scatter it as one scatters earth, to turn it over as one turns over soil’ – Walter Benjamin, ‘Excavation and Memory’, in Selected Writings, Vol. 2, Part 2 (1931–1
This spring, Spazju Kreattiv is presenting Inearth, Unearth: Archives of Matter and Ritual, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Gozitan artist Victor Agius, curated by Elyse Tonna. Marking a decade since Agius last exhibited at Space C with Project Ġgantija 2013, curated by Vince Briffa, this multidisciplinary exhibition promises a captivating exploration of materiality, memory and the human condition.
Inearth, Unearth: Archives of Matter and Ritual is a testament to Agius’ profound engagement with the fundamental materials to his artistic practice. Through meticulous excavation and introspection, Agius unearths traces of individual and collective memory, illuminating ancestral legacies and contemporary existential dilemmas alike. As he scatters and turns over the metaphorical soil of human experience, Agius reveals treasures akin to torsos in a collector’s gallery.
Natural materials, such as soil, stone and clay, serve as poignant repositories of meaning and memory in Agius’ work. Mirroring the attitudes and livelihoods of civilisations across history, these materials bear witness to the cyclical process of discovery, recollection and exploration. With a keen focus on Gozo’s geological and archaeological heritage, Agius employs matter and ritual as primary methods for his artistic exploration, crafting a narrative that transcends time and space.
Yet, Agius’ engagement with materials extends beyond the natural realm, encompassing synthetic substances like concrete and cement. Reflecting contemporary consumerist and capitalist ideologies, these materials hold cultural and societal significance, embodying the complex interplay between tradition and progress.
Structured into four thematic chapters, Inearth, Unearth: Archives of Matter and Ritual unfolds as an evocative investigation of each material’s layers of significance. Through Agius’ work, every material becomes a living archive, juxtaposing diverse characteristics and values inherent to it. Explored through the subjective lens of the artist himself, these works transcend mere symbolism, prompting critical reflection and contemplation of existential
concerns. As viewers journey through the exhibition, they are invited to unravel the complexities of existence and explore the enduring resonance of materiality.
Since 2017, Agius has embarked on a long-term collaboration with curator Elyse Tonna, which has spanned public art performances, exhibitions and publications, each project revealing new layers of his artistic practice. From Human Matter in 2017, to ħaġarna in 2019, to In Dialogue in 2022, Agius and Tonna have collaborated uncovering aspects of Agius’ interdisciplinary practice, nurturing a relationship that unfolds core aspects of Agius’ body of works.