An exhibition by Maltese artist Antoine Paul Camilleri is inviting visitors to slow down and reflect on the simple act of rest.Poġġejt għax għajjejt, which translates roughly as “I sat down because I was tired,” takes the quiet, restorative moment of sitting and letting go as its starting point, echoing Pierre de Coulevain’s line: “I think I know how to sit down to look at life.” The exhibition brings together a series of sculptures and drawings that focus on stillness and pause. Figures are shown seated on chairs, lying down, bathing, or gently interacting with animals, each work capturing an unguarded, intimate moment. Executed across ceramics, bronze, and works on paper, the pieces reflect Camilleri’s interest in the body at rest and the subtle emotional shifts that accompany it.The concept for the exhibition emerged during a studio visit by curator Melanie Erixon. While discussing ideas for a solo show, she observed that many of Camilleri’s recent works revolved around figures in repose. That recurring motif became the foundation for an exhibition that explores rest not as inactivity, but as a meaningful and necessary state.Rather than presenting grand narratives, Poġġejt għax għajjejt centres on ordinary moments that are increasingly rare in a culture driven by constant productivity. The exhibition encourages visitors to mirror the stillness of the figures depicted: to sit, observe, and allow thoughts to wander without distraction. In doing so, it frames “doing nothing” as an act of quiet resistance and awareness.Through these works, Camilleri points towards the pleasure of il dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing, and the value of taking time to pause, even briefly.Antoine Paul Camilleri was born in August 1959 and was apprenticed at a young age to his father, the late Antoine Camilleri, one of Malta’s key modern artists. He later studied under Esprit Barthet at upper secondary level and took pottery classes with renowned ceramist Gabriel Caruana. Over the years, he has participated in numerous collective exhibitions and held several solo shows. His practice spans a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, glass fusion, metal sculpture, and ceramics. Now retired, he works full-time from his studio in Pembroke.Poġġejt għax għajjejt runs from 4th to 18th January 2026 at il-Kamra ta’ Fuq. The exhibition opens between 11am and 2.30pm.Will you be checking out this exhibition?•