by E.V. Borg

Sergio Muscat (1978-) is young, sensitive and contemplative. He is immersed in the world of photography. His father, popularly known as Ronnie is his mentor. At sixteen, his father had already lent Sergio one of his SLR cameras with a couple of lenses. And equipped with a manual operated camera without auto-focus Sergio learned to shoot straight photos the hard way. It was a good start backed by an experienced and professional mentor that gave resounding results: a solid foundation with a love for classic photography that transformed a budding amateur into a competent professional.

Sergio’s first phase consists of an impressive portfolio of black and white photos in bold contrast and fine definition. Such features imbue his work with a unique graphic quality, classic in concept and realistic in substance. This initial phase immediately brought to mind an exhibition of graphics I had reviewed over thirty years ago of ‘Hungarian Graphics at the Museum’. Actually the catalogue’s title in Italian was ‘Grafica ungherese d’oggi’ (the author: The Sunday Times, 20. 03. 1974). After all the basics of both graphics and photography is the printing process.

This phase is not only technically impeccable but also deeply reflective. A characteristic example is a stone lion on a plinth, part of the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshall's Hall), in Munich whose fierce glare, icy stare and muffled growl would strike terror in any heart except that of an innocent child, a bystander utterly oblivious of this beast. Perhaps the subtle message lies in the symbolic lion that represents Nazi atrocities perpetrated half a century before the child’s birth. Simple but compelling shots such as those of some barbed wire, a straw hat, a rock on a sandy beach, a rope and louvers are all works with sudden impact.

Other works such as an old woman in traditional clothes but wearing running shoes and a skyline pierced by the spire of St. Paul Anglican Cathedral and the dome of Mt. Carmel Church in Valletta, competing for our attention over rooftops demonstrates Sergio’s power of observation, attention to fine detail without losing a sense of unity and the unique. ‘Il Siciliano’ shows Sergio’s talent for reportage and social realism. Yet the hallmark of this phase is a chiselled portrait of Sergio and his father Ronnie consciously posing in a formidable, hieratic frontal and imposing stance. The resemblance and Sergio’s pride in his mentor are quite explicit.

This seminal photograph is a turning point in Sergio’s career and it takes pride of place as it appears framed in a window under the hard black cover of a publication printed in a limited edition in March 2007, a choice collection of the photographer’s best works.

As he grew older Sergio’s interest in photography increased to include vivid colour and abstraction. Initially Sergio considered photography only as a hobby – he just enjoyed taking snapshots or recording holidays. Eventually during his studies and after graduating B.Sc. I.T. (hons) at the Malta University he met Fleur Ebejer whose enthusiasm and interest in the world of art focussed his attention on the appreciation of aesthetics. It was an enlightening experience and for Sergio it still is an on-going process towards growth and maturity.

Sergio recalls being a very sensitive child. He eventually learnt to screen such sensitivity in different ways although recently he felt it resurfacing again. He is not certain whether it is resurfacing stimulated by his interest in photography or whether his photographic impulse is a direct result of this welling in sensitivity. Perhaps it is probably a strange mixture of both. Sergio feels that this change is intensely liberating.

Sergio’s colour bursts are bold, challenging and formidable. ‘Beach Shop’ is a good example of how Sergio jolts our attention through impact in projecting the obvious and ordinary, the simple and plain as imposing and important. ‘A Door to Nowhere’ is highly reminiscent of a work by Beppe Zammit Lucia (1956-), his uncle, whose recent photographic exhibition was widely appreciated and highly praised (the author: ‘Language with a Message’ The Sunday Times, 15. 10. 2006).

But his greatest passion is for scenes of dereliction or decay. He is vividly inspired by the transformation brought about by the agents of denudation and erosion by nature of man-made works. There is magic, mystery and wonder in nature’s power at metamorphoses. Nature’s fickle ways are wonderful. Peeling paint on wood and metal, an improvised wooden barricade in a field, the hulk of an abandoned truck, the texture of dry and splitting wood part of a boat’s prow are tantalising poetry to capture with a lens. Sergio has worked incessantly on this theme though he knows full well there is room to investigate further, experiment, exploit, transfigure, assimilate and interpret.

Lately Sergio and Fleur Ebejer, his wife travelled to New Zealand to realise a recurring dream they had nourished and desired for quite a long time. Sergio took this opportunity to take thousands of shots to document and record this occasion and perhaps to exploit at will in future. Photography is stored memory and interpretation through a camera lens. Human recollection is mental photography through the mind’s eye. Memory is the basis of all art.

Sergio is presently looking forward to his first photographic exhibition in a collective at Gallery G, Balzan in February this year. He is looking forward to project his concept and vision. After some hesitation comes the moment of truth.

“New Faces” will be held at Gallery G (map), “Villa Gourgion”, Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija, from the 28th February till the 20th March 2008. The exhibition will host eleven upcoming artists, providing an interesting mix of styles and media. Sergio is the first photographer to participate in this annual appointment, and will be exhibiting 15 works in a variety of styles which reflect his artistic evolution over the past 4 years. The Gallery is open Monday-Friday from 9.30am-5pm and Saturday from 9.30am-12.00pm. On Saturday 1st March,Sergio will be present at the gallery to discuss his works and host family and friends.