Archive for March, 2008

28 03 2008

Interviewing Austin Camilleri – “if you don’t produce, you get constipated and if you get constipated, you don’t produce.”

Posted by: Emmanuel Caruana in Austin Camilleri

When did you first become aware that you had a flair for expressing yourself in art? 		Art in Malta - Austin Camilleri
I was born to a family of artists. My mother used to live next to my grandfather’s studio, so it came natural to get dirty with clay and paint from a very early age.
Did you attend any school of art to learn and perfect your artistic abilities?
When I was studying BSc in chemistry and biology at the University of Malta, I won a scholarship to study fine arts at the Accademia in Perugia for four years.
Back in Malta, I worked as an Art teacher but did not stay long as I felt I should dedicate my life completely to art. It was quite hard at the beginning but this gave me the freedom and flexibility that suited best my character. Being a freelancer meant I could travel, live, continue my research and training abroad much more easily.

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12 03 2008

Anton Abela – Visions at Whitehall

Posted by: Emmanuel Caruana in 43 years anniversary of the Independence, Anton Abela
The second solo art exhibition entitled, ‘Visions at Whitehall’ by the young Maltese artist Anton Abela is on from 3 March to 28 May at the British High Commission, Whitehall Mansions in Ta’ Xbiex. Open Monday to Friday from 0900hrs – 1400hrs. Entrance is free.  
   
Anton Abela is an enigmatic person and one could see this conveyed through his art. For Anton, art is a continuation of what he has in his mind. The artist gets his inspiration from nature, design and different cultures such as Islam, Chinese, Oriental Indian and African. This culture influence is clearly demonstrated in most of his paintings.  
   
Anton’s first solo exhibition goes back to October 2007 with the title of inverse reality.  
 
The inspiration for the Inverse Reality came while going through some negative photo prints, with all their dark hues and little hints of colour. In due time, as digitalization varies to some degree the purity and brilliance of the hues, an extensive colour wheel was used. The hue needed which corresponds to the real is picked up from the wheel; the opposite section would be consulted in order to find it’s complementary. Executing an art work entirely with such complementary colours, would never create a negative reality, but an Inverse Reality.

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12 03 2008

John Busuttil Leaver – Reflection

Posted by: Emmanuel Caruana in 43 years anniversary of the Independence, Blogroll
JOHN BUSUTTIL LEAVER presents a artistic “Reflection”, in an exhibition scheduled for the whole month of March 2008 at Stringi Café, Naxxar. John Busuttil Leaver
   
Travel through time with John’s works which give an excilerating visual reflection of the artist’s spirit. He is exhibiting 18 works painted over a long period many never before shown. Each gives a new insight into the complex and varied personality of the artist through the unity of hand and mind.  
   
The event is Leavers 10th solo exhibition (since 1986, marking his 22nd year of exhibiting) and preceeds the planned one-man show he will be holding at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity next November 08.  
 
One may visit ta’ Stringi at Victoria House, A1 Labour Avenue, Naxxar.Tel: 21422739, 79617055. Open from daily from 6.00pm till late, (next to the HSBC Branch, Naxxar Parish Church) and enjoy the paintings over a meal or just a coffee or wine throughout March 08.
 
You may also view the artist’s works at www.geocities.com/jbleaver
 

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05 03 2008

Olaug Vethal at the upper galleries at St James Cavalier Centre – Valletta

Posted by: Emmanuel Caruana in Olaug Vethal
Olaug Vethal Grazzi Malta: An art exhibition with works by Olaug Vethal(1946-2007) whilst in Malta from 1988-2007 will feature 40 works of art and other artifacts that reveal the relationship of this artist with the Maltese people whom she loved to paint. It is taking place at the St James Cavalier Centre of Creativity – upper galleries between 26th February and 30th March 2008. This is the first exhibition and publication following the artists death on the 24th February 2007. This exhibition will reveal the stylistic changes in her art from the very first presence of the artist on the island till the very last stages of her life, during her illness. The influences of the Maltese culture, people, way of life and light are reminiscent in her works following comparisons to when she first arrived.

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