Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/598356
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2015 30 How does it feel to be releas- ing yet another short story col- lection, and with Merlin too? What keeps you excited about this process, year in and year out? I published Penumbra, my pre- vious collection of short stories in 2010. When this book was undergoing production, I wrote Jesabel and Jack & Jill, the first two stories that appear in Vespri. That means it took me five years to compile this new collection of short stories. During this pe- riod I worked on other projects as well, primarily the thematic picture dictionary Stampakelma for which I had to draw more than one thousand pictures. But stories are always hovering in the stratosphere of my fantasy. Bi- zarre characters keep knocking on my door imploring me to pro- vide them with a body. And I'm always glad to oblige. Coupled with the fact that the book was launched on Hallow- een day of this year, would you say that a 'liberal' interpreta- tion of the confines of reality – and an equally liberal ap- proach to the magical, surreal and bizarre – are the hallmarks of this particular book? What led you to focus on these themes and motifs? In his analyses of the motifs of this collection, during the launching of Vespri, Dr Mario Cassar remarked that the themes that surface continually in this collection are Love and Death. I consider these two motifs to be interlinked… one by-product of the other. If it wasn't for Love, life wouldn't be worth living; and if it wasn't for Death life would be unbearable. Everybody expe- riences them but we don't un- derstanding their mechanics… and that makes them magical and surreal. I went through both experiences quite early in life… when I lost my mother and my young wife. Both experiences have stamped me for life. Do you think the story is par- ticularly conducive to such sub- ject matter? Why? I believe that characters are the crux of the narrative, but a good plot is an added asset. It pushes the story forward and keeps the reader engaged. Stories dealing with Death sound creepy, but in- triguing characters can mold the bizarre into fantastic reading. Maltese literature appears to be largely averse to the fantasti- cal and abstract. Do you agree, and if so, why do you think this is? Yes… up to a certain extent. There was a time when the " f a n t a s t i c a l " and the "ab- stract" were confined to folk- tales and children's stories. But I notice that we have a small crop of young writers that are push- ing these genres into new terri- tories. On a similar note, you have seen the literary scene in Mal- ta evolve first-hand. At what place would you say it finds it- self now? And what would you change about it? As I have just stated, we do have a surge of some very good quality literature. But occasion- ally one meet writers who don't really possess a good command of the Maltese language and thus produce work that is lacking in idiom and syntax. I think that certain aspiring writers will ben- efit immensely if they wait for the fruit to mature and sweetens its sap, before they move into the harvesting season. What's next for you? Now I'm looking forward to resume my research on a chil- dren's book that I've been plan- ning for quite some years ... and which I have unjustly neglected. Could you tell us a little bit about your background as an artist? I have always been involved in creative fields. Currently I am Senior Lecturer in Art at the Junior College and I also lec- ture at the University of Malta. I work in different media includ- ing drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, video and installations. I have put up eight solo shows locally and my work has been included in col- lective shows in various Euro- pean countries. My most recent work includes Spatium Clausum, a multi-channel video and sound installation at the Mediterrane- an Conference Centre and De- Scroll at The National Library in Valletta. How did you develop your skills, and what have been some highlights of your career so far? I've studied art in Malta and the UK, alongside other subjects. My practice can be considered cross-boundary since I often intertwine art with other disci- plines. As regards highlights, I would say that being chosen to represent Malta in a Europe- an-wide exhibition, celebrat- ing the accession of new mem- ber states including Malta into the European Union, was quite significant. Every solo show can be considered a milestone in an artist's career and being invited to show one's work overseas is also significant. What was the main inspira- tion behind the exhibition? De-Scroll is the title of my current exhibition at The National Library in Valletta. It forms part of a larger body of work responding to place. I translate found material into ar- tistic practice. I collaborate with the landscape and my aim is to transform commonplace matter into matter of artistic enquiry. What does the exhibition con- sist of? The exhibition comprises one hundred sculptures made over a period of time. Why was the National Library of Malta chosen as a venue? How do you think it suits the work in question? De-Scroll investigates textuali- ty, among other things, thus The National Library seemed to be the 'natural' setting for showing the sculptures. The Library con- sists of books and books narrate stories. Similarly my sculptures are comprised of multiple stories imbricated with materiality. The showcases and the entire setup of the library provide an appro- priate context for such work. What do you make of the lo- cal arts scene? What would you change about it? I think that at present the local arts scene is extremely vibrant and that definitely augurs well for the future. There are many things I would like to see changed but that merits a separate interview. How- ever, someday I would like to see a museum for modern and contem- porary art being set up in Malta and more space and facilities to accommodate contemporary art practice. De-Scroll will remain on display until November 15 This Week Multiple stories made material Teodor Reljic catches up with artist Trevor Borg, who completes the season's celebration of the book, as his exhibition De-Scroll takes place in tandem with the National Book Festival, at the National Library of Malta in Valletta with a showcase of 'organic sculptures' Trevor Borg De-Scroll on display at the National Library of Malta, Valletta Malta's literary national treasure Trevor Zahra welcomed the Halloween season in style: by launching a short story collection which picks at the blurred lines of reality and dreams, love and death. He speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about the Merlin-published Vespri, while also pitching in his 2c worth on the local literary scene Taking a leap into the dark Trevor Zahra