Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/298224
29 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 APRIL 2014 PREENING PHILLY PG 38 SLINKY SPIDER PG 34 CHARMING CHOCOLATE PG 36, 37 Not just a poser Up-and-coming Maltese artist Matthew Attard speaks to TEODOR RELJIC ahead of his upcoming exhibition, 'You're a Poser!', which will be taking place at the Galerie Canal How would you say your artis- tic style has developed ever since you moved away from Malta? Has living away from the Mal- tese scene inf luenced you in a very tangible way? If so, how so? I don't really think we can speak about a development of artistic style, but more of a visual research. I believe myself to still be at the early stages of it all, and hope to develop much further. Living in an international scene obviously facilitated the first-hand experi- ence of certain events, but still I think in today's world stimulation and interest can be accessible from anywhere. What are some of the key things you've learnt over the last few years as an artist? As an artist I probably learnt not to try to be one. I'm trying to learn how to focus on projects to devel- op instead. How do you negotiate the link between drawing and sculpture? At what point did you realise that this 'tension' between forms would inform your subsequent work? I don't think there was a definite point of 'realisation'. The interest in 'drawing' in space automatically led to use the current 'sculptural' forms, and everything developed from there. How would you say your work responds to the exigencies of contemporary culture? Are you reacting to anything in particu- lar? I find contemporary culture very difficult to define at this mo- ment in time, so understanding its exigencies is even more difficult. I prefer to look at fragments of it which interest me, especially those coming from outside the contem- porary art world. I try to observe things and then show them for ob- servation. You still retain a connection to Malta – in fact, this latest exhi- bition is supported by the Malta Arts Fund – do you feel that you're still 'representing' Malta in any real way? And what ad- vice would you give to Maltese artists who want to expand be- yond our shores? Yes, I still retain a connection with Malta. I always will, it is the context where I come from and I am very grateful for any support. Regarding the question whether I represent Malta, that is a bit differ- ent in this context. I think that the art world is not similar to some- thing like sport competitions, like the Olympics or the World Cup. Of course it would differ should there for example be a national pavilion at some Biennale. As to advice, I think I am too young to be able to dispense adequate advice. I prob- ably made a number of mistakes along the way myself… but anyone who would want to expand be- yond our shores should just go for it – there is nothing to lose. Matthew Attard is also repre- sented by Galleria Michela Rizzo in Venice. A show entitled In Be- tween is dedicated to him and runs until May 25. The show was sup- ported by the Malta Arts Fund Matthew Attard