Vestiges : a study in ecological identity

Abstract

Silvio John Camilleri has unveiled his fifth solo show, Vestiges, at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat. In Vestiges, Camilleri departs from the dominant focus on the urban landscape evident in his last exhibition to explore instead the thesis of ‘ecological identity’, a term coined by Mitchell Thomashow to refer to how persons perceive themselves in reference to nature. In the artist’s own words, “This series represents a kind of shift for me – from depictions of external spaces to something more internal and symbolic.” This shift could have been inspired by the passing of close relatives which sensitized him to the powerful metaphor offered by nature’s cycles for the grieving process. The collection of 32 vibrant paintings has six main strands of works related to the theme of ecological identity, particularly to the concept of totemism: Totems, Totemantics, Rhythmic Pulsations, The Horizon We Inherited, Kindred, and Primordial Lullaby. The artist uses a hybrid genre of surrealism and totemism. Predominant amongst the leitmotif of totems are four animate objects deeply linked to the Maltese context: bulls, lizards, figs, and loquat. In the case of the bull, the link extends to its strong representation in Maltese prehistoric art. In this article I explore how the genres of surrealism and totemism both align with the concept and title of Vestiges and discuss the artworks from both colonial and postcolonial standpoints.