Malta’s rocks, soil, sheep wool and even prickly pear cacti are being transformed into works of art for a new exhibition opening in Valletta this month.Artist and researcher Matylda Jarosz will present her first major solo exhibition in Malta, Walking the Coastline, at the Malta Society of Arts from 18th to 31st August.The exhibition brings together around 15 to 20 paintings, drawings, textile works and installations inspired by Malta’s coastline and developed during Jarosz’s two-year MA in Fine Arts (Research) at the University of Malta.At the heart of the project is the artist’s experience of walking along Malta’s coast, collecting and observing materials along the way before incorporating them into her work.Rocks and soil gathered during these walks have been ground down to create natural pigments, while locally sourced fibres and other organic materials have been used for textiles and installations.“Each piece carries physical traces of the places from which its materials originated,” Jarosz explained.One of the exhibition’s key pieces, Ground I, is Jarosz’s first large-scale painting made using pigments she created herself from rocks, soil and other organic matter collected around Malta. These were applied to a handmade cotton canvas.Her Intervals I-IV series and Grid triptych take the experimentation into textiles, using organic cotton and Maltese sheep wool which Jarosz personally cleaned, processed and formed into strands before weaving.Another installation, Binding, makes use of naturally fallen prickly pear pads collected during her walks. Their skeletal structures resemble woven lace, creating a connection between forms found naturally in Malta’s landscape and traditional textile-making.“Because many of these materials behave unpredictably, the making process involves experimentation, patience, and embracing uncertainty,” Jarosz said.Beyond using Malta as inspiration, the project explores how artists can work more sustainably, from sourcing natural materials to adopting slower and more environmentally conscious methods of creating art.“This is more than an exploration of sustainability – it is also an application of sustainability through practice,” Malta Society of Arts president Dr Joe Borg said.Ultimately, Jarosz hopes the exhibition will encourage people to take a closer look at Malta’s surroundings and reconsider the value of natural materials that can easily go unnoticed.Walking the Coastline will run from 18th to 31st August at the Basement Vaults of the Malta Society of Arts, 219 Republic Street, Valletta.Admission is free, with the exhibition open at varying times from Monday to Saturday.•