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27 THIS WEEK CALIFORNIA CRUISE PG 34 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 FANTASTIC FIGS PGS 32, 33 TIME TRAVEL PG 35 The animal that I am How does Zoographics compare to your previous work? Would you say it marks some kind of evolution? Due to my former training as a contemporary dancer, the Human body plays a central role in my work and re-appears in different forms and shapes. This work rarely focuses on people, it really focuses on animals and their habitat in zoos. Because it was a long project, it changed quite a lot between beginning and end point, but I liked the way the project began to live on its own. Do you, by extension, then also seek to explore the relationship between man and nature? Actually, I do. I am currently work- ing on my trans-disciplinary PhD about the relationship between ani- mals and feminist theory. So it is es- pecially the wo/man's relationship to animals I am interested in. So far, I'm convinced that humans are just an- other kind of animal. How would you say your work is tied to contemporary concerns? Human-animal studies gained a lot of weight in the recent years. On one hand, there is the whole ethical debate on animal exploitation through the industry, animal testing or the genetic experiments on animals. On the other hand, I would say that humans were never so close to non-human animals before. We both experience a kind of vulnerability through our bodies and the rapid changes in environment and technology. The animal used to be the classical 'Other' of Man, and in my work I try to find other relations to nature and animals instead if op- posing them to humans. Are you looking forward to being in Malta, and how do you hope it will reflect back on your work? I very much look forward to Malta, and I am excited to be there. I am as much looking forward to discussions about the work then to discover some of the amazing Maltese cultural herit- age. Kathrina Swoboda's VIVA exhibi- tion, Zoographics, will remain on dis- play at St James Cavalier until October 5. In the exhibition, visitors will be able to enter a space specially constructed for her projections and photographs Austrian artist Kathrina Swoboda speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about her participation in the Valletta International Visual Arts festival – VIVA. Primarily a video artist, Swoboda's work is concerned with our relationship with the animal kingdom, and suggests that, when all is said and done, we may not be all that different from our animal counterparts after all… artists, so I am pretty stoked to be taking part in this year's edition. I believe that having artists from dif- ferent backgrounds and with wide- ly diverging practices, converging and exhibiting together under one roof while exposing the thinking process behind their work creates a unique opportunity for the pub- lic to approach the visual arts from a completely different angle. Would you say that your approach to art is primarily local, or international? How so? AB: I do not consider local or international when I am working for the reason that we have been living in a globalised internet-fed world for a few years now, mean- ing that we see/read more on what is happening globally then about the exhibitions here in Malta. The approach can be considered local because we are working here even though there is no physical image or mention of the country in the artwork. 'Adornments', the work I am presenting at Divergent Think- ers, has both references to Austrian architect Adolf Loos and Maltese Facebook profile pictures. MG: I don't believe that these distinctions are relevant to my practice. I never tend to think of something as local or internation- al. My work is primarily sculptural which is something that in itself is not necessarily tied down to place or context, even though it many people's mind it could be. Jackson Pollock once said that, "The idea of an isolated American painting so popular in this country in the 30s, seems absurd to me just as the idea of a purely American mathemat- ics or physics would seem absurd... the basic problems of contempo- rary painting are independent of any country". What are some of the most important things you've learnt about art from school and other educational institutions? What are some of the most important things you've learnt at your own initiative? AB: On my own initiative I learnt to question what I was taught at school and university. MG: These two I believe are the same thing. I believe that no one really teaches you anything, but you can definitely learn from someone. No one sat down and taught me how to draw, paint or sculpt, and no one can really teach you how to think. What you ab- sorb from your tutors and like wise in any situation in life is through observation. I have learnt a lot at educational institutions especially during the past year while read- ing for an MFA in Digital Arts at the University of Malta. Learning is an active rather than a passive act, and can occur in all situations especially the least expected ones, so I would say without detracting any merits from all of my tutors who have done a wonderful job with me, everything I have learnt is through my own initiative. How do you think participating in VIVA will help you as an artist? AB: VIVA is a brilliant initiative mostly because it has international artists and curators coming over to our island. As I have said be- fore the internet makes you aware of what is happening everywhere around the world, but physically seeing artworks and meeting peo- ple working in other geographical locations enriches you both as a person and as an artist. MG: Participating in initiatives and festivals like VIVA perhaps marks the fulfillment of all the work and studies I have put in to the visual arts. I believe that be- ing active in the contemporary art sphere helps me grow in directions that would not be possible by just locking myself in my studio and by research. What's next for you? AB: I am currently working on different other projects, mostly implementing some public art works and products that have been on the drawing board for years, a video composition and an art- ist book should also be presented later on this year. MG: I am currently working on my MFA in Digital Arts disserta- tion so most of my time and energy at the moment is channeled there. There are a number of collabora- tions on the cards that should be interesting if they go through, yet nothing is confirmed at the time of writing. Divergent Thinkers 03 forms part of the Valletta International Visual Arts Festival. The event is being organised by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, with the support of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity. For more information, log on to: www.viva.org.mt Matyou Galea 'Adornment' by Adrian Abela 'Amplified Sculpture X by Matyou Galea'