Local artist Lisa Cassar unveiled her debut solo exhibition, “Where I go to breathe”, at Camilleri Paris Mode in Rabat on Saturday morning, presenting a collection of works shaped by her pursuit of calm and restoration.
The exhibition showcases a series of ‘naturescapes’, intimate and vibrant pieces that trace her return to the natural world during moments when she most needed grounding. Through saturated colours and fluid brushwork, Cassar’s paintings capture both movement and stillness, each inspired by a place that played a part in her healing after a period of turbulent events.
Rather than depicting broad horizons or sweeping vistas, Cassar focuses on the often-overlooked details of the outdoors: the layered greens of clustered leaves, the shifting geometry of branches, and the dappled light across dense undergrowth. These close-up studies of local trees, plants, and tangled foliage blur the line between realism and abstraction. Leaves dissolve into patterns; branches create rhythmic structures; colour pulses rather than forming flat planes.
In a time when nature feels increasingly fragile, Cassar feels compelled to bring it closer, reconstructing on canvas the sense of safety it provides her. The effect is immersive: standing before each canvas, viewers are drawn into fragments of nature that feel both familiar and expansively new, offering a reminder that even the smallest corner of the natural world contains complexity, shelter, and quiet.
The exhibition grew out of Cassar’s efforts to rebuild stability during a challenging season. By turning to nature and focusing on its intimate forms- the curve of a leaf, repeating patterns, or light filtering through branches—she found a meditative practice, with painting becoming an extension of her healing journey.
Where I go to breathe invites viewers to experience the same release: a moment to slow down, observe closely, and find peace in the intricate forms of the natural world.
The exhibition will be available for viewing throughout December. The event is sponsored by King Shoe Shop, VeeGeeBee Malta, and Gauci Borda.
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