Synopsis:
At the heart of Smuggler is the recurring motif of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), a plant that, despite being non-native, has become deeply embedded in Malta’s landscape and identity. For Kaiser, this symbol of resilience and adaptation mirrors his own experience of integrating into a new cultural environment. If at first, the painter’s subject consists of still-lives made of personal domestic “archives”, his works move on reinterpreting classical and historical paintings, and portraits by layering them with cactus imagery, offering fresh perspectives on tradition and contemporary life.
The exhibition includes distinct series such as Cactus Still-life Religious, where everyday objects replace sacred figures in classical compositions, questioning the intersection of spirituality and consumerism. Cactus Botanic elevates the plant itself as a subject of artistic study, while Cactus Faces and Ghost Cactus blend art history with Kaiser’s signature motif. His reinterpretations of works from MUZA’s collection, including pieces by Guido Reni, Guiseppe Vermiglio, Stefano Erardi and Mattia Preti, bridge past and present through bold visual experimentation.