Dimensions: 50cm x 22cm x 24cm
Date of the work: 2020
Medium: Plexiglass
Exhibition history: Art+Feminism (2020); Prestorjha (2023)
Ġisimna (2020) is the first substantial plexiglass work Tabone developed from her research into the theme of looking at prehistoric female figures from a feminist perspective. When you first see this work, it may remind you of the bottom part of some of the prehistoric figurine remains found in Malta, if you’re already familiar with them. Solidly presented within the artist’s signature elements, in this work she plays with the illusion of light and shadow, engaging with the multi-layered meanings of this piece. The double spiral shadow evokes a symbol frequently found in Neolithic time representing harmony, beginning, concentration, and focus. The spiral pattern is one of the most common in nature, from snail shells to whirlpools to entire galaxies. In various cultures and belief systems, the spiral commonly signifies the sun or the radiation of ethereal energy.
