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Acrobats, children at play, and local characters make up Antoine Paul Camilleriís world. The artist is now exhibiting a selection of sculptural works and coloured drawings at Camilleri Paris Mode in Sliema. Gilbert Calleja caught up with him for a chat.
Usually exhibitions in shops are not my thing. Through the glass door I see designer tables, chairs, rugs and all one needs for the home. I walk in and through this amassment of furniture and textiles my eyes wander in search for the works on exhibition.
Two artists, Antoine Paul Camilleri and Andrew Borg have joined forces in this venture but the latter refused to be interviewed as he prefers to show his works and let them speak for themselves. Antoine Paul Camilleri was more forthcoming and he was willing to speak to me about his artistic project.
Camilleri comes from an artistic family. His father, Antoine (senior), was a major figure in the history of modern art in Malta and the local art scene is still grieving his passing away last November.
Antoine junior is of a more reserved, somewhat conservative nature and his works show the affinity he feels with the man in the street. He welcomes me to the exhibition and as we settle to tour round the works on display I am surprised by the jocular character of his sculptural pieces.
I make out the thin elongated figures of acrobats hanging or standing on iron ëbarsí. Then metal horses pulling the bakerís bread-loaded cart, rough workers driving to work on their truck and other characters.
Your work reminds me of Marini, Matisse and to a certain extent Brancusi and Giacometti. How correct am I in saying that these artists were your greatest source of inspiration? What were your other artists of reference?
ìEvery artist seeks inspiration from many different sources,î he says, ìI like the expressive qualities in the work of artists like Durer, Goya and Munch to mention but a few. But my greatest inspiration was my fatherÖî
Indeed Camilleriís thin figures and line drawings owe much to his father. His rough textured, thin expressive figures are reminiscent of the fatherís works (take for example the figure of the crucified Christ and the artistsí many self-portraits).
You come from an artistic family. Your father has had a major influence on the development of modern and contemporary art in Malta. How has this left its mark on you and how do you see your development (past, present and future) as an individual artist?
ìAntoine, to me was a father, teacher and friend. He was a very versatile artist, always experimenting with different media. This was a great asset to me. We had a lot of space at home in Balzan so it was great fun to see and participate in carnival floats, Christmas activities, masks and floats for particular occasions, lino prints and local stamps. We worked with clay, tin sculpture, papier mache, plaster and resinÖ
ìI like line drawing as one of the main ëlessonsí in art,î he says, anticipating my question about the textural qualities and playful approach evidenced by his works.
ìMy father always emphasised that first one has to master drawing before moving on to painting. We used to go to draw on the spot, in the countryside, in the streets, and by the sea. Most of the drawings exhibited here were executed on location, very much in that same spiritÖ sometimes, years after, I return to the line (pen and ink) drawings and water-colour them.
ìI will never forget my fatherís saying that ëart is like a river. If it stops, it diesí,î
Camilleri tells me his artistic formation was marked by the necessity to continue experiment and be creative.
ìAfter this exhibition I would like to start doing sculptures in bronzeÖ and also setting up an etching press.î
In this exhibition the idea of ëchildhoodí and playfulness come to the fore.
ìI like subjects related to children and their sense of continuous activity. I am also attracted to the mother and child themeÖ my childhood was a pleasant one, and I like to model themes related to my past experiencesÖ my children Nicole and Stefania are also a great inspiration.
ìI am also attracted to everyday subjects and the people in the streets. One of my sculptures exhibited is ëTal-Hobzí, the baker... a man I remember from my childhood years in Balzan. He used to go round the village streets together with his son selling bread from a wooden cart pulled by a horse.î
Do you have one or many ideas behind this exhibition? Is there one or more messages you want to bring to the fore?
ìAlthough this exhibition represents a small selection of my work, I wanted to emphasise family valules, Maltese traditions, subjects like ëtal-hobzí, ëtal-pitroljuí (gasoline distributor), and ësejrin ghax-xogholí (people on their way to work).
ìI would also like to bring out the beauty and the craftsmanship of the masonry work in Malta. The old buildings in the cities Valletta, Imdina and BirguÖ we need to restore these treasures before it is too late.î
You are therefore concerned about the preservation of the general character and popular culture of the islands. As an artist how do you see your role in society?
ìAn artist ës role in society is to make people aware of the beauty around us. To be sensitive, restore and cherish our heritage and environment.
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