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My essentials LILIYA CAUCHI 35, art educator and sculptor My name is Liliya Cauchi, a sculptor, educator, and researcher based in Gozo, Malta, originally from Bulgaria. As an artist, my practice centres on ceramics and glass, exploring silicates through processes of reuse, accumulation, and transformation, creating forms that shift between vessel, symbol, and landscape. My work draws on the Mediterranean, cultural identity, and nature as interconnected sources of material and conceptual inspiration. 1. Museum 2.TV 3. TV 4. Music 5. Place A musical performance that struck me with its originality was Teatranja – The Conduc- tor Sings, a multidisciplinary show that brought together music, theatre, and literature in an intimate setting. The experience, along with the classical music performed, was deeply emotional. Its atmosphere and musical lan- guage stayed with me, offer- ing new perspectives on how different art forms commu- nicate. In an interesting way, it resonated with my own interest in finding common ground between the shifting qualities of the ceramics and glass materials. I love exploring Bulgari- an nature and countryside when I return home. Bul- garia has a rich heritage of ancient Thracian sanctuar- ies, Eastern Orthodox mon- asteries, and sites often de- scribed as places of strong energy. Locations that have stayed with me include the stone formations in South- ern Bulgaria, the Rila lakes, and small villages around the Black Sea coast. I see these places as contributing to my artistic identity, and certainly, traces of their atmosphere surface in my work. I recently read Three Poetic Treatises by Nāgārjuna and was drawn to its metaphor- ical, minimal, yet vividly descriptive language found in Asian literary traditions. One passage particular- ly resonated: 'Although we may live together (with oth- ers) like water and lotus, (be- tween us) there is no close- ness. Although saints may live apart, like the moon and lotus, they still long for one another.' This imagery reflects the subtle tension between elements, a quality I also seek to express in my artworks. DURING an art history class I teach, I came across the film Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti. It led me to explore the artist's biography more deeply and to appreciate his work from a different perspective. The film prompted reflection on the nature of the artist, ques- tions of morality and aesthet- ics, and the diverse inspira- tions that shape the creation of artworks. It also inspired my own thoughts on how art emerges through the inter- play of experience, interpre- tation, and context. THE internet provides me with opportunities to pro- mote my work, connect with fellow artists, and find new sources of inspiration. One particularly inspiring exam- ple is the glassblowing com- petition series Blown Away, where I was mesmerised by the skill of visiting glass art- ists and the delicate sculp- tures created under each design challenge. The series encouraged me to explore international courses and artist residencies focused on experimental techniques in ceramics and glass as path- ways to further develop and expand my artistic practice. Compiled by Laura Calleja suggestions by email lcalleja@mediatoday.com 4 5 1 MaltaToday is supported by Arts Council Malta 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 APRIL 2026 ALMANAC 3 2