Maltese sculptor Antoine Farrugia presents his latest exhibition "Għamja L-Għajn" (meaning "the eye is blind") at Il-Kamra ta Fuq in Mqabba, running through August 24th. The exhibition explores the fascinating tension between what viewers see and what they physically experience through Farrugia's lifelong artistic relationship with globigerina limestone.

Farrugia's primary artistic inspiration stems from his deep connection to limestone as a medium. The stone's unique geological characteristics and remarkable pliability provide the creative momentum he needs to breathe life into organic, flowing forms. This energy transcends the physical material itself, representing Farrugia's personal mission to transform ordinary stone into extraordinary artistic expressions. The stillness and purity of his sculptural works transport viewers into a world of sensual forms that have become the defining signature of his artistic career.

Known throughout Malta for his abstract and sensual sculptural style, Antoine introduces a compelling new body of work in this exhibition that showcases striking visual contrasts. His latest pieces feature smooth, flowing sculptures carefully mounted on raw, jagged stone bases - unrefined blocks that appear exactly as they emerged from the earth. This dramatic juxtaposition creates a powerful artistic statement about the relationship between refinement and natural rawness.

The exhibition's title itself evokes both concealment and revelation, suggesting the ongoing tension between visual perception and tactile experience. This duality runs as a central theme throughout the entire exhibition, where artistic refinement meets natural rawness, and creative instinct meets technical control. For Farrugia, sculptural form remains the most important element, representing a artistic language he has carefully developed and refined through years of dedicated work with stone. Each piece in the collection serves as both a significant technical achievement and a deeply soulful artistic expression.

These new works represent not only a natural continuation of Farrugia's longstanding commitment to abstract art but also serve as a heartfelt tribute to the limestone material that has fundamentally shaped his entire artistic practice. The exhibition clearly demonstrates Antoine's ongoing mastery in execution, as well as his remarkable ability to inject presence and purity into every single sculpture he creates.

Whether experienced as meditative objects for quiet contemplation or as tactile encounters that invite physical interaction, these sculptural pieces encourage visitors to reflect deeply on themes of transformation, perception, and the silent strength that lies embedded within stone. The exhibition offers art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike an opportunity to engage with one of Malta's most distinctive sculptural voices and his evolving artistic vision.