Maltese-born artist Bob Cardona presents BACK WHEN, a new solo exhibition at the Xara Palace in Mdina, exploring memory, identity and everyday life through a series of evocative figurative paintings inspired by recollections of early years in Malta.
Born in Malta but creatively shaped during more than four decades living and working in England, the artist originally began studying fine art before moving into a successful international career in design, branding and visual communication. Following a return to painting in 2016, fine art has become a renewed and deeply personal direction.
BACK WHEN marks an important chapter in that journey. The exhibition brings together a collection of contemporary figurative works drawn largely from memory — fleeting moments, familiar faces and scenes of ordinary Maltese life reimagined through a contemporary yet nostalgic lens.
Working predominantly in acrylics, the artist combines elements of contemporary realism and semi-abstract expression, using a muted retro-inspired palette that evokes atmosphere and emotional resonance without relying on traditional nostalgia.
“These paintings are less about documenting the past and more about capturing the feeling of memory itself,” Cardona said. “They reflect small human moments that might otherwise be overlooked, but which stay with us over time.”
The works reveal the influence of a long creative career in design while embracing a more personal and expressive visual language. Observation, storytelling and the quiet humanity of everyday subjects remain central themes throughout the exhibition.
Set within the historic surroundings of the Xara Palace in Mdina, BACK WHEN offers viewers an intimate and reflective experience that celebrates memory, place and the enduring character of ordinary life.
BACK WHEN will run from 4 June at 6pm until 16 July at The Xara Palace, Mdina, Malta.
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