Visual Artist Jade Zammit marks first solo exhibition with ‘Paradise Lost’

‘Paradise Lost’ marks the debut solo exhibition of Visual Artist Jade Zammit.

In this new body of work, Ms Zammit confronts the fragility of paradises—both real and imagined—that are perpetually “hanging by a thread.” The works vary not just in form, but in their thematic undertones, reflecting the multifaceted nature of paradise itself.

Drawing upon the romanticized portrayals of non-European cultures, the artist uses the Gobelin tapestries housed in Valletta’s Grand Master’s Palace as a foundational reference. These 17th-century masterpieces, initially commissioned to evoke awe, mystery, and wonder, are reinterpreted through Ms Zammit’s contemporary lens. Inspired by the idyllic yet ultimately disillusioning scenes in Paul Gauguin’s Tahitian series and the decaying world of colonial Africa as depicted in Ben Okri’s novel ‘The Famished Road’, her work weaves together threads of personal memory with broader themes of a deteriorating paradise.

Ms Zammit’s work delves into the discomfort associated with the loss of the natural world, as she is deeply inspired by nostalgia and personal moments, favouring intimate themes over grand, monumental events.

Recently, the artist has taken a multidisciplinary approach weaving stories rooted in sentimentality, inviting the viewers to connect with the past.

Her first debut solo show Paradise Lost will take place at the Malta Society of Arts, from the 3rd till 24th October 2024.