Multidisciplinary artist, actor, and director Maria Wright will open her debut solo exhibition, "I Burnt My Kitchen Down," on November 13th at 7:00 PM at Sala San Filippo, Salesian Oratory in Senglea. The exhibition will run through November 16th and will offer free admission to the public.
Wright, who hails from Mellieħa, draws deep inspiration from her childhood in the 1980s, transforming nostalgia and memory into an impressive collection of mixed-media collages, paintings, clay sculptures, and performance pieces. Her artistic work explores complex emotions through texture and storytelling, skillfully blending personal experiences with universal themes of loss, resilience, and renewal.
Despite the exhibition's striking and provocative title, "I Burnt My Kitchen Down" is not a literal confession but rather serves as a powerful metaphor for transformation and self-reclamation. Wright conceived this exhibition after experiencing significant personal loss, viewing destruction as a necessary prelude to the process of rebuilding one's life. "I called it 'I Burnt My Kitchen Down' because when that happens, you have no choice but to rebuild," Wright explains. "And that's what this exhibition is all about – rebuilding yourself."
One of the most compelling highlights of the show includes a series of clay works created from material that Wright has carefully preserved for over a decade. "I've carried this clay with me through every move for ten years," she reveals. "I always knew I'd use it when the time was right, and now it feels right." This patient approach to her art demonstrates the deep personal significance behind each piece in the collection.
The exhibition also represents the fulfillment of a deeply personal promise Wright made to herself before turning forty: to share her artistic work with the public for the first time. Encouraged by her supportive community and embracing life's unpredictability, she steps into this pivotal moment with remarkable courage, honesty, and vulnerability.
Visitors can experience the exhibition during specific hours throughout its four-day run. The show will be open on Thursday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday between 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and again from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. With free admission and convenient viewing times, the exhibition promises to be accessible to a wide range of art enthusiasts and community members interested in experiencing Wright's powerful artistic journey of transformation and renewal.
