My essentials: Lisa Cassar’s cultural picks

About

I am a fine artist with a lifelong love of art and creativity. After having my two daughters, I began painting more seriously and made it part of my daily life. I first started sharing my work through portrait drawings before moving towards nature-inspired paintings, which are now the main focus of my work.

Book

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I actually collect copies of this book and read it multiple times a year. I am drawn to its poetic style and reflections on life, love, loss, and human connection. What I find most interesting is the simplicity of its ideas. Apart from being beautifully written, the messages feel timeless and deeply relatable, encouraging reflection on everyday life and relationships

Film

As a mum I watch my fair share of animated movies. I recently watched the animated film The Wild Robot with my daughters. It’s visually stunning, with a soft, painted animation style, and I loved its gentle, poignant message about motherhood, care, and belonging.

Internet and TV

I really enjoyed the online content surrounding David Attenborough’s 100th birthday earlier this May. I loved watching clips from his early documentaries and reflecting on the incredible extent of the natural world he has witnessed and shared over his lifetime. It was also moving to see the appreciation and admiration people expressed for his work and legacy, which has shaped how so many of us see and value nature today.

Music

It has got to be RAYE. I love everything she writes, and her latest album This Music May Contain Hope is honestly one of the best I have listened to in a long time. Her song writing feels raw, honest, and deeply personal, which is what makes it so powerful. When I first heard Click Clack Symphony, it genuinely moved me to tears. Her music carries so much emotion and truth, and it really stays with you long after listening.

Place

Any part of Malta’s coast or countryside that remains unspoiled and quiet. It’s rare but it’s where I feel most alive. It’s the backdrop of my childhood, my entire life really. It's within me as much as I am within it and I guess that explains why I paint what I paint. It devastates me that it's disappearing before our eyes and I do hope we wake up and realise what we have before it’s gone.