Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/181770
28 THIS WEEK THIS WEEK CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON The Young Turks of Malta's fine MaltaToday has been featuring profiles of the students from the MCAST Art and Design Higher National Diploma and Bachelor's programmes. In this, the fifth week, we interview Jennifer Mallia and Lara Camilleri The influence of MCAST Lara Camilleri JM: I found MCAST Art and Design Institute to be an ideal place to learn and develop. Looking back, there's a sharp contrast in my work before I started studying at MCAST, and after. My work used to be rather plain and devoid of any concept. I would focus more or less exclusively on painting and drawing, and would never be satisfied with the final piece. As soon as I entered the Institute I discovered many workshops such as the ceramics, wood, stone, jewellery, printing workshops, and the digital studios such as the photography studio. The potential of these studios and workshops is impressive. The experience, guid- ance and encouragement of the lecturers stimulated my learning of new techniques and art. Moreover, being around many creative students was also inspiring and informative. Now that I learned to work in different workshops I discovered my style and identity as an artist. In addition, the Institute provides an End of Year School Exhibition to students from which I always received positive feedback. The Institute also helps us to produce business cards, to promote ourselves, to produce websites and blogs and to subscribe to creative websites to gain better exposure and inspiration. Through the Degree Programme, I managed to develop my entrepreneurial skills. LC: MCAST has shaped the way I go about creating art. Rather than just plunging straight in and going with an initial idea, I first research everything that is relevant to the basic idea, then brainstorm to see if I can come up with a more complete – or better – idea, then get cracking on the creating. MCAST has also influenced the way I perceive art. Having been there for the past five years, I was constantly surrounded by creative people (namely the Fine Arts group) which has given me a greater understanding of what art is and what it means to be an artist. Your art's main defining factor JM: I tend to prefer working with sculpture. I don't have any preferred material and I love to change materials. I used to work a lot with ceramics and found objects, as I like their natural (or even manmade) state, and I find the material exciting. I'm not that keen of commercial art and I produce fine art work as every piece is unique and original. Recycling materials seem to be the main defining factor in my work but I also engage in traditional print-making and ceramics. Themes and concepts I revisit in my art are death, rebirth, spirituality, poverty and religion. LC: The defining element of my work is concept. Rather than being material-led, I am concept-led, so without a strong idea I can't create. However, I do find that most of my work tends to be colourful, and I have a preference for painting, both of which could also be considered as defining factors. The next step in your artistic development JM: The next step for my artistic development would be to Clockwise from top: artworks by Lara Camilleri improve my identity as an artist. I will participate in more exhibitions to achieve more exposure. Then I would like to read for a Masters Degree in Fine Arts, specialising in contemporary sculpture. Another priority is to participate in competitions, which will also contribute to put myself on the platform with new and established artists. This would give me the opportunity to continue to learn more about different techniques. I would also continue my professional development through reading books and discovering new international artists. I consider building up my portfolio and enhancing my style of work to be of paramount importance. I will not stop being creative as art is the language through which I can best express myself. Also in four years time I would like to visit again the exhibition dOCUMENTA in Kassel, which I found as a source of inspiration. Currently, I am also collecting inspiring fine art pieces from different artists, because I love to have my own collection of art. LC: The next step for me is to create a successful project without the guidelines that all work created at MCAST is bound within. I am working on a project at the moment, and because of the lack of deadlines, I find it hard to work at a steady pace. Therefore, the progression of this project is spasmodic at best, according to mood and free time. Once I get round to setting up deadlines of my own, the project should progress much more smoothly. That's the intention anyway.