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MT 25 September 2016

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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2016 33 This Week Salvaging items back into art pieces Showing that sustainability in the arts doesn't have to be just a buzzword, Matthew Attard and Deborah Rossetto of NO.ME Studio in Valletta speak to TEODOR RELJIC about the philosophy behind their store and space, which consists in large part of items 'recycled' back into art objects for all to enjoy Could you tell us a little bit about your journey from being an artist, to eventu- ally opening the NO.ME studio? How did one lead to the other, and are they actu- ally all that separate after all? They are not that separate in reality. The idea behind NO.ME studio is that of an art and design collective effort focusing on unique projects and items. My personal artistic research continues to evolve par- allel to NO.ME's activities, as well as my colleague's, Deborah Rossetto. We would also like the venue itself to be flexible in its own transformations through temporary events and installations, for example just last week we opened a two-week exhibi- tion: 'In Human'. What is the philosophy behind NO.ME, and what kind of products can visitors expect to find at the place which reflect that way of thinking and approach to the craft? The NO.ME venue in Valletta is a con- cept store where we showcase a variety of items from small unique gift ideas to interi- or design objects, clothing to photography, and accessories to art items. Each available item at the store is unique and hand-made, sometimes with a strong upcycling design presence. NO.ME is interested in the pro- cess of re-applying discarded materials with a thorough research and attention to art and design. Apart from the store items, we also work on specific projects and commissions, as well as our own individual art research. Being a collective, our different interdis- ciplinary background permits us to work on a variety of projects. Your fusion of art and business, and the fact that you're located in Valletta itself, arguably make you the perfect example of a creative team taking full advantage of Valletta's position as an aspiring cul- tural 'hub', especially ahead of Valletta 2018. How true do you think this is, and are you actually seeing a move towards such a hub? Yes, we did actually want to locate our venue in Valletta due to its aspiring trans- formation into a cultural 'hub', but also as we see and believe in the city's potential. However, "taking advantage" is currently a bit of a strong phrase. We do get the op- portunity to meet and talk with important and interesting individuals who are either already in Valletta or passers-by, but much more needs to be done for the city to be- come the intended international cultural 'hub'. What advice would you give to artists and creative professionals aspiring to introduce a similar entrepreneurial ele- ment to their creative work? What chal- lenges should they look forward to, and what are some of the main things they should watch out for? Most probably it is too early for us to be able to give some real advice, however a lot of sacrifice with respect to own's own time and money is imperative. NO.ME is located in 91b, Republic Street, Valletta, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:30. The exhibition 'In Hu- man' will be running at the venue until October 1. For more information, log on to: http://nomestudiovalletta.tumblr.com/ "Much more needs to be done for Valletta to become the intended international cultural 'hub'" NO.ME studio specialises in upcycled materials converted into interior design objects and art accessories The duo behind NO.ME: Matthew Attard and Deborah Rossetto

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