Art in Malta

(more…)

Sunday Circle September 2, 2007 (Daniela Xuereb)

Maybe it’s because I am a people person that makes me intrigued by different characters, talents and cultures. And 78-year-old Gabriel Caruana is a character you seldom come across, if ever at all. When I called to arrange my interview there was a humble tone in Gabriel’s voice that struck me… not just on the phone, but also in his Balzan art studio.

Upon entering he points towards a chair beside him and invites me to take a seat. I look around me and understand why this studio must be priceless; all the work Gabriel created there is now being enjoyed internationally. He is not distracted by my presence, or by my questions. As he replies, his eyes still focus on what he was doing before, a ceramic crucifix for a friend… it has a traditional shape with a modern twist.

Throughout the interview there were silent moments, then words. The irregular speed at which the interview progressed made it even more worthwhile. His memory does not fail him and despite the many works of art spread around his studio he knows exactly where each painting rests. As time goes by the crucifix is completed. He calls one of his helpers to remove it from his lap and moves on to working on another ceramic piece. That is what he does all day, every day, immersed in his own thoughts, creating one masterpiece after another. “I was already playing with clay at the age of seven. As I grew older I experimented with sculpture, at the time under my uncle’s guidance until I eventually moved on to teaching art,” he tells me.

Gabriel was among the first Maltese artists in modern times to work ceramics and is renowned for his extensive contribution to the appreciation of modern art on our islands. Looking back during the time when the Church was the major patron of art (which somewhat determined our local expectations of art), a number of Maltese artists took the plunge to ‘introduce’ modern art – Gabriel was one of them. He persevered and encouraged his students to paint what they wanted to and not what they were ‘expected’ to. “I was a contributor to modern art in Malta, I decided to continue unlike others who did not. I felt the need and saw there were many students who had a thirst for modern art… I encouraged all those whom I believed had a talent for modern art. ”It comes as no surprise that he admires Spanish painter and sculptors Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. Picasso was one of the most recognised figures in 20th century art, best known as the co-founder along with Georges Braque, of Cubism. While Miro’s work has been interpreted as surrealism. In several interviews Miro’ expressed contempt for conventional painting methods and his desire to “kill, murder or rape” them in favour of more contemporary means of expression.

Locally, among others, Gabriel admires painter and friend Victor Pacemoore. “To me art means economy, time and quick service,” he says, frankly. “If a particular painting does not appeal to one person it is not the artists’ fault – its not a problem that person might just relate to another piece…each work of modern art attracts people in different ways, it’s that simple.” Despite his international success Gabriel keeps a low profile, but people notice him anyway.

Last July he was one of the artists exhibiting his work during a special preview of an artistic exhibition that sought to reinterpret Caravaggio’s art within a contemporary context. The preview – held at Auberge de Castille – was part of two projects: Caravaggio 400, which celebrated 400 years since Caravaggio came to live in Malta and the Malta Arts Festival which also kicked off in July. Gabriel’s art was displayed in the courtyard of Auberge de Castille.

Gabriel continues to work every day, whether producing ceramics, sculptures, paintings or mixed media work. His art consists mostly of paintings and ceramics. He considers any surface suitable for his painting including chairs, cloth, metal and odd pieces of wood. The main aim of most of his paintings is simplicity.

His works have been exhibited in solo worldwide shows from Malta to England, Italy to Switzerland and he has had group exhibitions in Osaka (Japan), Detroit (US), Munich, Faenza (Italy) and New York. Some of his art is found in the private collection at Malta’s National Museum of Fine Arts and many of his works have been sold to private collectors. Gabriel’s artistic education began at the Malta School of Art (1953-59). He further studied at the Academia Pietro Vannucci in Perugia (1965), the School of Arts and Crafts in Detroit (1966) and the Istituto Statale per la Ceramica in Faenza (1967).

He is a father of two girls in ther 20s and husband to Mary Rose, originally from Qala, Gozo, whom he married when he was 50. His wife is also an artist and together they studied art in Perugia. “My wife is a very good artist,” Gabriel tells me. In fact one of her paintings was included in the exhibition in the courtyard of Auberge De Castille.On a final note we speak about a ceramic piece he was just commissioned to do; ironically, the subject is Gabriel the Archangel. I’m curious and ask him if he is a religious person and somehow we end up on the subject of Archangels. Gabriel tells me he prays to Raphael the Archangel, “the patron saint of all travelers”… but I guess with a name like his, surely he will never be forgotten by the Archangel Gabriel either.

President De Marco inaugurates Gabriel Caruana’s Exhibition at Bank of Valletta 

HE Prof Guido De Marco today officially inaugurated ceramist and sculptor Gabriel Caruana’s exhibition at Bank of Valletta’s Head Office Foyer in Sliema. Also addressing the inauguration were Mr Joseph F X Zahra, Chairman of Bank of Valletta and Prof Richard England, Curator of the exhibition. Addressing the guests, Mr Zahra described how throughout his career of “intense and enthusiastic activity, Gabriel Caruana has not only secured for himself a great and enduring reputation as a creative ceramist of exceptional achievement but has also succeeded in the process in making ceramic art one of the most popular art forms of contemporary Malta with a meritable host of students, followers and admirers.”

Mr Zahra added that “Gabriel’s art is remarkable for its complete subjective spontaneity and for its enduring rebellious spirit of non-conformity. In his hands, the malleable clay assumes shapes to be found solely in his imagination, that yet manages to register and echo impression of his own native landscape and cultural environment. More than a proper solid form, it embodies a captured moment of visible fluidity that at times has been described as a rococo effervescence – an unmistakable personal trait that has made Gabriel Caruana a truly unique artist.”

In his introduction, Prof Richard England stated that “Gabriel Caruana, today, is considered to be one of the most innovative and original artists of the Maltese contemporary art scene. In person, immediately provides a perfect reflection of his creative activity and work. Passionate, rough and ardent, always pregnant with exuberance and incandescence he remains, even in his mature years, very much a rebellious and anti-conformist character. Above all, it is his inexhaustible and creative capacity that impresses. Always, he is true to his own creeds and beliefs; a lonely traveler in search of the long-lost destination of Arcadia.”

Born in 1929, Gabriel Caruana’s original approach to the art of ceramics has earned him high esteem not only locally but also on the international scene. He remains however, much a product of the spirit of place of his native land. His works echo and evoke the vast panorama of the many layers of Malta’s particularly rich iconography throughout the ages. Always, his works utilize metaphor and memory to delve into the roots and essence of his island home. His inspiration is drawn from a combination of popular art traditions together with the natural and architectural forms of our land.`The exhibition features a collection made up of 54 ceramic works which illustrate the dynamism of the artist. The exhibits have been grouped into various sections portraying different avenues of experimentation. These include bronze, free standing objects, heads, wall plaques, totems and standing figures, a column collection, wall hanging sculptured panels, plates and half spheres. The exhibition will remain open to the public till the 20th December 2001.

26 July-18 August in Valletta

As part of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts’ 400th-anniversary Caravaggio programme, this contemporary art exhibition features five established local artists in five different venues inspired by Caravaggio’s life and works during his sojourn in Malta. Vince Briffa, Giuseppi Schembri Bonaci, Caesar Attard, Anton Calleja and Gabriel Caruana offer different forms of art and the spaces chosen for this exhibition highlight the beauty of indoor and outdoor Valletta

Some of Gabriel Caruana work which is exhibit at the Birkirkara The Old Mill Culture & Crafts Centre.   Click on each photo for a closer look.

 If you are interested to display some of Gabriel’s work from your private collection, please email me with the details on manuelc@btinternet.com

Gabriel Caruana – Website
Gabriel Caruana on Wikipedia
Gabriel Caruana and St Gabriel Band Club
Born in 1929, Gabriel Caruana continues to work each day, whether producing ceramics, sculptures, paintings or mixed media work.
Throughout his long and dedicated career, he has exhibited in both national and international one-man and collective shows; selling his work to many private collectors around the world.
He runs a Studio and The Old Mill Culture & Crafts Centre, where his pieces are on permanent exhibition alongside other visiting artists work.

The Malta Independent Friday, August 31, 2007  

Caravaggio Quote… Unquote

The art exhibition entitled Caravaggio: Quote… Unquote shows exciting facets of Maltese contemporary art by way of a connection between the present and the past, through the work of two contemporary artists and that of Caravaggio. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was the most important artist to have set foot on and worked in Malta.

Within a charged and dramatic setting, his stay in Malta provided the artist with a relatively long moment of tranquility, a period when the artist reflected both on his life and his work.

The two participant artists, both major exponents of the Maltese contemporary scene, are Anthony Calleja (b.1955) and Gabriel Caruana (b.1929).

The concept presented sees the two artists’ interpretation and understanding of Caravaggio’s work in their own personal way.

Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Simon Busuttil and David Casa held a press conference at the European Parliament Information Office in Valletta on Thursday, to launch Malta Week, a culture initiative, which will take place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg between the 4th and 6th September.

Introducing the initiative, Simon Busuttil said that the purpose of the initiative was to promote Maltese culture in Parliament and present a taste of Maltese art, music, food and drink and to increase the country’s visibility.

Malta Week will consist of the following key events.

Among these is an exhibition “Caravaggio: Quote … Unquote” consisting of Maltese artists’ impressions of Caravaggio, featuring the work of Anton Calleja, Gabriel Caruna and Vince Briffa’s. This will be coupled up by a photographic exhibition called “Images of Malta” about the Maltese islands. The exhibits will be viewable in North Gallery, LOW Bldg at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th September.

I have visited Gabriel Caruana’s studio several times in the last few months. He is one of our local mature artists. His work in ceramics, sculpture, paintings, design, and mixed media are of high quality modern art.

There is so much to learn from Gabriel, who is now 78, still practising design, sculpture and painting daily. His ideas are unique, original, simple and yet so artistic.

When Gabriel started, he had a dream to turn the old Birkirkara mill into a culture and crafts centre for modern art. He succeeded, and there is a permanent exhibition of his work alongside that of other artists.

Visitors to Gabriel’s studio will feel inspired by his work. He encourages artists to use any media to represent whatever comes to their mind. He spends much time discussing with people and giving attention to every subject.

He is currently exhibiting some of his work at the Auberge de Castille courtyard; the exhibition is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Its title is Quoting Caravaggio.

Emmanuel Caruana

Hamrun