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My essentials JUSTIN AMRHEIN 46, Artist I'm an American artist from California. A strategic move to Brooklyn, New York happened in 2007. Over the last several years I have been more nomadic following and creating artistic opportunities around the globe. I found my way to Malta through a connection from a mutual friend that linked me to the best independent curator on the island, Melanie Erixon. 1. Book 2. Film 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place A playlist that has happily found its way into my studio practice. Acoustic Beastie Boys. There's no lyrics, only instrumental. In my studio this playlist is argu- ably perfect for me. There are big chunks of time where I need music to fuel me creatively but lyrics often become a distrac- tion. Instrumental music helps my brain. This Beastie Boys Acoustic playlist does the same thing classical music does for me but it brings those hip-hop vibes I love. PLACE, how do I pick one? I won't. Happy Place 1: Markleeville California, the forest I spent every summer in as a child that embed- ded in me a love and respect for nature. Happy Place 2: Humboldt County in Northern California, the redwood forests are simply magical. A memorable place: Ja- pan blew my mind. A future des- tination I look forward to: Some- where to see Aurora Borealis with my partner. Several nights await- ing and experiencing the natural lights together… Iceland, maybe? THE Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. It's a book that was recommended to me by a friend. The overar- ching concept or message behind my art work focuses on environmentalism and this book falls in line with that wave length. The Bot- any of Desire presented a lot of new information and ideas that I'm expecting will eventually find its way into my work in some form. Particularly, humans' role in the evolution of plants. THE Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. It's fantastic. A very fun movie. As for memora- ble scenes in things I have watched recently I would say the 'practice scene' from Ted Lasso, which quickly became one of my favorite series of all time. I can't rec- ommend it enough. This particular scene in episode six stood out to me because it's actually a reenactment of a real-life legendary in- terview from Allen Iverson in 2002 when being asked about practice. A friend recommended an article written in the on- line TATE Etc. magazine. The article is titled Domes for Doomsday which is a concept presented by Buck- minster Fuller to his stu- dents in Chicago in 1949. I read it this week before my opening at MUZA with my 3D Blueprint Sculpture series. The timing was per- fect as Buckminster Fuller's architectural drawings are linked to how this series formed. Compiled by Laura Calleja suggestions by email lcalleja@mediatoday.com 4 5 1 2 3 MaltaToday is supported by Arts Council Malta 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 JULY 2025 ALMANAC