States of Being II: The Self Within

by Olaug Vethal

• Vinyl acrylic on paper
• 48cm by 63cm
• 61.7cm by 77.7cm framed
• c. 1995-2006

In States of Being II: The Self Within, Olaug Vethal turns the self-portrait into an encounter with interior consciousness. Her face emerges from dense, layered strokes of colour, recognisable yet
fragmented, as though physical appearance can only partially reveal the person within.

The intense gaze anchors the painting, while shifting blues, pinks and flesh tones disrupt the boundaries of the face and body. Rather than recording likeness, Vethal appears to search beneath it. Within her metaphysical world, the self exists between the visible and invisible. The Self Within becomes an exploration of consciousness, memory and inner presence, suggesting that our deepest identity may lie beyond what can ever be seen.

This work is currently hung at Spazju A, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta until 25th October 2026 as part of the exhibition ‘Beyond The Visible | The Metaphysical Worlds of Olaug Vethal, curated by Christine Xuereb and in collaboration with Christine X Art Gallery