The Stone Age offers a unique insight into contemporary artists’ distinctive engagement with marble.

Traditionally, the use of marble dates back to Roman and Greek antiquity, whereby influential figures would commission marble sculptural portraits to illustrate their wealth and socio-political standing. Throughout history, the material was frequently revived, most famously during the European Renaissance and with the advent of Neo-Classicism. The material’s trans-historicity is attributable to its ductility that allows the artists to reproduce detailed features, while retaining the marble’s smooth texture and graceful appearance.

This exhibition explores various approaches to marble, featuring numerous acclaimed artists including the late Igor Mitoraj, the talented Michelangelo Galliani, and more abstract artworks by Helidon Xhixha that translate the marble found in nature into forms external to our visual realm. Challenged by the material’s long-standing tradition, all the artists skilfully carve their ideas on the stone using different techniques and tools.