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Paintings

Unknown futures 1: Signs of change
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A three headed Barn Swallow (Ħuttafa) appears over a vast dry landscape where the crops have failed.

As the climate changes and soil erodes it will become increasingly hard to yield successful crops for food and agricultural reasons.

Migration at Sea 1: Beginning
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A group of Barn Swallows (Ħuttafa) are seemingly trapped on land whilst others escape via flight. A visitor signals escape by boat.
This painting draws inspiration from Nicolas Poussin’s ‘The Crossing of the Red Sea’

Migration at Sea 2: Beginning 2
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2023, Sydney, Australia

A group of Barn Swallows (Ħuttafa) seek escape from a large wildfire whilst some of their brethren fly ahead.

Migration at Sea 3: Journey’s end
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2023, Sydney, Australia

An overcrowded Luzzu (boat) full of Barn Swallows (Ħuttafa) and their children seemingly journeys onwards into the vast sea, encountering a Grey Heron (Russett Griż) along the way.
Some journeys are more straightforward than others; inequality affects people on different levels, and climate migration is a universal concern.

Migration at Sea 4: Journey’s End

Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A capsized Luzzu (boat) fills the scene with survivors and casualties whilst two Barn Swallows (Ħuttafa) try to keep their child afloat in the dangerous waters.

Dangerous crossings at sea, particularly in the Mediterranean region have increased drastically over recent times. Visas and safe travel are restricted to certain nationalities or economic status; this leads to desperation and often tragic outcomes.

Unknown Futures 2: Asylum seekers
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A large group of Barn Swallows (Ħuttafa) and a Heron (Russett Griż) are incarcerated and awaiting processing. Two Hoopoes (Daqquqa tat-Toppu) are arguing over what to do next.

Resource Wars 1: Sleep of reason
Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A violent scuffle erupts between various survivors of a shipwreck. A looming storm approaches while an ominous figure – the allegory of death, watches from above the wreck.

Overcrowding and competition for resources has consequences, as we place ever-increasing pressure on the earth’s resources to feed a growing population.

Resource wars 2: The Consequences of War

Acrylic paint on canvas, 2024, London, UK

A Barn Swallow (Ħuttafa) stands on a pile of dead swallows overlooking a barren landscape with a looming storm.
Resources will become increasingly rare especially in countries where the climate will be more tolerable . As population sizes balloon there is increased risk of fighting over resources such as water, food and energy resources causing further alienation and loss of life.

Etchings

Portrait of a migrant

2023
Copper plate etching – hard ground, aquatint and soft ground.

Mother and child plate

2023
Copper plate etching – hard ground, aquatint and soft ground.

Downed Boat plate

2023
Copper plate etching – hard ground, aquatint and soft ground.

Fires plate

2024