A painting exhibition by Maltese artist Rupert Cefai
at 1926 La Galerie, Old Theatre street, Valletta (opposite Manuel Theatre)
***POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***
10th – 31st July 2025
Monday – Friday 3-8pm, Saturday 10am-1pm
Contact details: phone / email: +356 99844653 info@christinexart.com
www.christinexart.com
Rupert Cefai’s collection titled In Transit explores the theme of movement and transition within Valletta, depicting the constant flow of people traversing the city’s streets. Through his use of colour and light, Cefai immortalizes the everyday moments of residents and visitors alike, highlighting the interconnectedness of individuals as they navigate the urban landscape, emphasizing the transient nature of their experiences.
The works in In Transit are both observational and deeply reflective, capturing the city in a state of continuous flux. Cefai’s painterly gestures echo the rhythm of Valletta’s changing atmosphere—morning commuters, fleeting glances, and ephemeral shadows coalesce into a narrative of human presence and impermanence. Each piece invites viewers to contemplate not just the physical movement of bodies, but the emotional transitions that accompany daily urban life. This interplay between place and person becomes a quiet meditation on belonging, temporality, and the subtle ways in which we leave traces on the spaces we occupy.
Cefai’s approach in this series is deeply rooted in observation, yet filtered through a personal lens that borders on the cinematic. The compositions—often capturing figures mid-step or in contemplative pause—balance abstraction and realism, allowing viewers to find fragments of their own narratives within the scenes. The artist’s sensitivity to the fleeting quality of time is evident not only in his brushwork but in his ability to frame the ordinary as quietly profound. In doing so, In Transit becomes more than an artistic reflection on Valletta—it is a mirror to our own impermanence, asking us to consider the beauty found in the in-between moments of life.
Although managed by Christine X Art Gallery, the exhibition will take place in central Valletta at the newly established 1926 La Galerie—another boutique hotel establishment under the 1926 brand—located on Old Theatre Street, directly opposite the iconic Manoel Theatre. This setting, itself a site of cultural passage and architectural legacy, provides a fitting backdrop for Cefai’s exploration of passage and transformation. In Transit will remain open to the public until the 31st of July, 2025, inviting both locals and visitors to pause and reflect on their own journeys through the historic city.
