Sebgħa, Maltese for “seven”, was a joint project by Etienne Farrell and Mark Mallia. The work featured here, however, presents only Etienne Farrell’s contribution. The project was exhibited in a small church situated in the heart of the village where the artists shared their studio.

Farrell’s work explored the symbolic use of the number seven within the Catholic Church through an interpretation of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, to whom the church in which the exhibition was held is dedicated. Mallia’s work interpreted the Seven Sins. The two artists’ approach was highly personal and contemporary, both in conceptual interpretation and in execution.

The project took place during Holy Week, in the period leading up to Easter, and resulted in a significant secondary collaboration with the residents of Mqabba, the village where the work was exhibited. The artists deliberately chose to present their work within a sacred space, during a sacred time, and in a community where religious traditions are upheld and practised with great reverence.

This juxtaposition of contemporary artistic expression and deeply rooted religious tradition within a devotional setting initiated curiosity, leading to healthy dialogue between the artists and the local community. It also inspired local children to contribute spontaneously through drawings, which became part of the evolving body of work.