Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/204636
28 THIS WEEK THIS WEEK Beauty in the commonest places Graphic designer and photographer Matthew Demarco speaks to MaltaToday about his latest project – framing traditional Maltese tile patterns under the 'Malta Tile Prints' banner "I started this project about a year ago, collecting photos of tiles and different patterns and signs and stuff to fuel my obsession with documentation and archiving," Matthew Demarco says of Malta Tile Prints, which is pretty much a logical off-shoot of his other online haunt, the 'Malta Type' Tumblr page, which lovingly collects examples of vintage Maltese storefronts and awnings. "My main idea at the time was to rebuild these elements using digital software, to basically store the information that they provided in a way that could then be re-used across different digital media…" Demarco says that one of the main aims behind the project was to zoom in on things people take for granted and make them fresh again by placing them in a different context, "to give them a new light, playing with the scale of the pattern, and to make it easier for the eye to take it in". "Growing up, I always used to look out for things which should be given more credit than they are... buildings which could be beautiful, furniture which people would throw out, which could look so perfect in the right surroundings, even day-to-day situations which become dull through familiarity…" Found online on demarco.bigcartel. com, Malta Tile Prints gives visitors the opportunity to purchase Demarco's work, whose instantly recognisable patterns will evoke examples of classic Maltese design. "Studying graphic design meant that I frequently had to do research to find elements to use in projects which 'look Maltese' or 'could pass as Maltese'. But why? Why not take actual elements which are subtly synonymous with Maltese life – day-to-day life. And even if the tiles may not be 100% Maltese, as they have many foreign influences, they nonetheless make a part of everyday life in Malta and are things which many people recognise and can relate to in some way or other, but never really appreciated the patterns and colours... they are just considered to be 'the tiles at my nanna's house'." Demarco ends with a quote by Camille Pisarro that continues to inspire him. "Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." For more information log on to demarco.bigcartel.com CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON Letters from hom Graphic designer and illustrator Adrian Gauci gives us the lowdown on his contribution to the collective exhibition Divergent Thinkers 2, on display at St James Cavalier until November 10, in which he presented a typographic triptych entitled 'Jien u d-Dar' TEODOR RELJIC "MY contribution for Divergent Thinkers was a development from my dissertation, Nocturn-e. The project explored different ways one can engage in storytelling using modular typography. I set about creating 'Jien u d-Dar' to explore the relation between my dwelling and myself. I wanted to show this using my modular typography. However the theme was inspired from a smaller project I was working on where I had to create board game steps using Maltese tiles. While working on that project, I realised the potential of the Maltese tiles for creating a whole typeface. I guess I chose typography as my medium because I am a graphic designer after all. And when I thought about Maltese tiles as a typeface, I realised I had to do it – especially now that there is a revival of 'everything Maltese'. "The theme – the relationship between my home and myself – is a recurring thought I have, a preoccupation which questions whether I should leave my country or home. I like where I live, especially my room. It's the place I call home. I sleep there, talk, meet people, work, relax, and also hide from everything else. "Also, my room has become my way of expressing who I am – what I hang or display on the shelves, how I tidy my room, everything. It's like when they say you can judge a person by his or her shoes; in my case I feel I do it with my room. "I'm always asking what I should do with my work. I probably will never get an answer to that, but typography and illustration have always been on the forefront in my work. I would definitely consider working on something of the sort again, but I usually become interested by something else and hop from one thing to another haphazardly. "Many people despise technology saying it is soulless and complicated. Well, it's here to stay so might as well use it to our advantage. "I happen to be a bit of a geek but I like traditional media as well. The reason I like traditional media is because in certain cases it simply is better than technology. In this case for example, the ink printed on the paper by hand couldn't be produced by current technology. I choose to work by hand because it also gave a soul to the piece. Traditional Maltese tiles are usually produced by hand. I wanted the same concept applied to the process. "The problem nowadays with traditional media is that it is mostly viewed through a digital monitor. How can you appreciate the ink effect, the imperfections, the reflected light, textures, and all the rest of the piece if you are watching something on screen? "I'm not saying that traditional media is better than digital or the other way round, but I think they both can work together. If we keep using traditional media only, no progress would be made. If one day a technological screen would be better at producing what I have done, I will use it. "It's also worth noting that I designed firstly on paper, then digit-