Maltese Artist Featured In International Exhibition In Berlin
Maltese artist Ryan Falzon, whose artwork has already been turning heads in Malta for a few years now, is exhibiting some of his prints at the Miniprint Exhibition 2017 in Berlin. The exhibition is being held at the Galleri Heike Arndt Berlin, and will feature over 100 fine graphic prints from 40 international artists.
Ryan Falzon told Lovin Malta that he’s been visiting Berlin quite a lot over the last 6 years. “It was always a matter of getting exposed to current trends, as well as building a network to support any work that I would exhibit here if the opportunity comes,” he explains.
After networking with Berlin-based artists, he was invited to exhibit in the mini-prints exhibition, where the main factor was the size of the prints, something right up Ryan’s ally.
“My works are the only multi-registration lino prints in the show, as the show encompasses a wide range of printing techniques – etching, sugar lift, intaglio, digital prints and more,” he says.
And the reaction so far has been great. “The works stand out – the technique used, reduction method lino print, allows the work to have a touch of pop, while containing a raw expressive element, and that balance always makes my work, whether prints or paintings, very effective.”
“Still,” he says with a smile, “if I had free reign, I would still have submitted my car crashes series,” referring to his tongue-in-cheek 2012 series.
He has been impressed with the response he has been getting in Berlin so far.
“The gallery has got an ethos, that it does not work to attract the art-goers who are interested in names and a glass of champagne. The crowd at the opening were mostly artists and collectors, and that gives space for one to network, not getting rich overnight, more about studio sharing, residencies and all that.”
He also noted differences between Maltese exhibition openings and those abroad.
“In Malta, you go to one show and do most of the networking possible,” he says. “Malta is a village, and once you get connected to an amount of people, that’s it. I’m not a commercial artist, I am not attracting crowds who loves luzzu and Mdina paintings.”