Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
28 THIS WEEK THIS WEEK CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON Painting through doubt In our ongoing drive to uncover the up-and-coming talent in local visual arts, we speak to Gabriel Buttigieg, who has recently exhibited his work at the Divergent Thinkers 2 exhibition at St James Cavalier along with a group of artistic peers TEODOR RELJIC "ALTHOUGH I have obtained a Degree in Fine Arts, my true education was the hours I spent practicing alone, exploring the ways and means by which I convey what I want to say, in full force. "While attending MCAST, I was lucky to have tutors such as Gilbert Calleja, who were instrumental in pushing me in this direction. I am also indebted to Robert Zahra, who apart from helping me sit for my A Level in Art, has shared his resources and knowledge with me for the past five years. "A short work experience in Berlin has served me to get an insight of the art scene there, and I had the chance to meet artists, visit studios and discuss art, apart from visiting galleries buzzing with contemporary art. "The most important things I've learnt about practicing art so far are to simply enjoy what you do, and spend as much as time possible with the subject you are depicting… spend more time restructuring the subject in your head, then pour it all on canvas. "Another valuable lesson I learned was to stop complaining and get things rolling. This year, I have started to use the Xarolla Windmill Gabriel Buttigieg in Zurrieq as an open studio, which the public are encouraged to visit. I've joined forces with a group of a young artists and formed a group, X242, and so far we have organised three successful events. I have exhibited in six collective exhibitions, among them being Milkshake (March) and Divergent Thinkers 2 (October). "What I mean by all this is that you have to work, constantly, come up with new ideas, organise events, while being a practicing artist yourself. "My main inspirations are present human conditions, the immediate environment, and states of mind. Until some years ago, my major inspiration was my immediate environment: the contrast between different locations in Malta, particular individuals, authoritative figures. It is no coincidence that the first set of works that I exhibited in 2010 were collages, which borrowed a lot from the Modernist political collage. "After this series, my work took a twist, and while before I was documenting others life and environment, I started to look within me, analysing my thoughts and mind states to create realities in paint, on canvas, which exist only through assimilation in the mind. "The technique used in these paint- ing stayed similar to the one used in the collages. The layering technique has worked perfectly for me in most of my works. I do not aim to create a static scene; I always present narrations. While the work may seem chaotic and dispersed at first sight, it is up to the viewer to unveil and conjure the scene. My job is to make this journey interesting, in aesthetic and intellectual manner so that the viewer would not be bored halfway through the process, or wouldn't even be pushed to start the discovery at all. "My works are all about humanity, with all its joys, disappointments and boredom. While figures rarely feature in my art, all the subjects depicted are a vehicle to depict aspects of the human condition. These include, organs: different organs serve different functions, and convey different sensations. A medical drawing of a heart radiates a different feel from a drawing of a red heart with an arrow penetrating it; the car: I am extremely selective when it comes to choosing the model to use to convey an idea. I go for cars that have a particular presence, mostly an aggressive one. I also choose the models for their historical importance, or sometimes out of personal fondness for such car; machinery: the reconstruction of machinery in my works are there to represent the though process done by humans, or as an aid attached to faces and organs; religion: this has to do with growing up in Malta, brought up in a Catholic family, being force fed religion at school, and all that imagery grows on you. Sometimes it remains hovering in the mind, waiting to haunt you when you least expect it. "Being present in an exhibition with such contrasting works is always a challenging experience: for me, it is a metre that shows you where you stand. I was very confident with my works, and I believe that my work stood out due to the execution and subject: built on a composition of Comedy group aim to break record for shortest panto COMEDY sketch group, The Comedy Knights, will aim to perform the world's shortest panto this Christmas, as part of their topical comedy sketch show at the Salesian Theatre later this month. The current world record stands at five minutes, a time that the Maltese comedians hope to smash. "We have identified a list of essential panto elements, and will include them all in our extremely abridged panto," says director Wesley Ellul. "It's a challenge, but should be great fun to watch." 'The World's Shortest Panto', written by Chris Dingli, will form part of an evening of topical sketch comedy performed by Jo Caruana, Marc Cabourdin, Chris Dingli, Colin Fitz, Steve Hili and Pia Zammit. Ellul commented, "The show is all original material, written and performed by Malta's funniest performers. No politician is left unscathed or scandal unmentioned. It's definitely not for the kids." Aimed at a purely adult audience, the Comedy Knights' Christmas Comedy Cavalcade runs at the Salesian Theatre from Boxing Day until 30 December and all tickets include free parking. Tickets start from €10 and are available from www.comedyknights.com Back (left to right): Marc Cabourdin, Pia Zammit and Colin Fitz. Front: Chris Dingli, Jo Caruana and Steve Hili