Portraits

2023
Assemblage with Clothes



"Portraits" is a series of three assemblages featuring clothing that represents individuals identifying themselves with genders beyond the binary. This project stemmed from the artist's thesis, titled "Genders Beyond the Binary: Investigating Local Maltese Contemporary Art." The project itself cantered around a collaborative effort between the artist and three individuals, each of whom identifies with genders beyond the binary. The artist invited each participant to donate various articles of clothing, which were then transformed into unique assemblage artworks, with each piece representing an individual. The artist deliberately refrained from influencing the selection of clothing for aesthetic purposes, instead welcoming any and all articles of clothing that the participants were willing to donate. The primary aim was to authentically exhibit the truths of these individuals. Once an individual purchases a piece of clothing, they are, in essence, choosing it to represent them. Looking back at their entire wardrobe, they can trace their journey of personal evolution and reminisce about the memories associated with these objects. In these portraits, the clothing represented various aspects of the wearers' lives, some garments were worn to conform to societal norms, while others were chosen to defy those very standards. It was a journey of self-exploration, and all the clothing items were carefully folded and sewn to maintain their integrity. This meticulous process was essential because it preserved the clothing's memories rather than destroying them, encapsulating the essence of each piece.




Pheonix-Jake Saliba He/Him 165cm x 130cm

Lily Milanova She/Her
160cm x 100cm

Nick Ebejer He/Him
130cm x 90cm