‘A fleeting moment of grace’ 

Edited by Joseph Borg and Maria Frendo (Il-Ħaġar Gems Series No. 11)

Every human being is born an artist but it is the few who let their art flow in such a way as to be expressed in ways or forms that fall under the senses. Aaron Formosa, a teacher of philosophy at post-secondary level, is one of these. As soon as he became aware that he could express himself through the art of painting, he took the brush into his hands to reveal his innermost thoughts and feelings. The Latins used to say that experientia docet; it must have been through experience that our artist began to feel at home in sacred art, an art that has become synonymous with his name as one of Gozo’s most accomplished painters.

Twilights is Aaron Formosa’s fourth personal exhibition. I have had the privilege of following his sacred art production over the last decade and, though I am no art critic, I feel that Formosa has matured with every step he has taken. His style has become identifiable only because he has carved for himself that particular niche which is his and only his. As in the case of the great poets whose poetry has become identifiable with them the more the one reads of their poetry, the same can be...