My essentials: Antonio Mifsud’s cultural picks

About me

I have been active in the arts for over 25 years, working across sculpture, painting, sacred art and public art projects. My artistic practice combines traditional techniques with a contemporary approach, and I have exhibited regularly both locally and abroad. Alongside my own artistic practice, I have also been involved in curatorial and cultural projects, while serving on various artistic and cultural initiatives and commissions.

Book

A book I read recently is Ir-Re Borg by my friend Aleks Farrugia. I found it fascinating because, beneath its brilliant satire and humour, there is a much more serious message. What I particularly enjoyed is the way the book makes you laugh while quietly inviting you to question what lies beneath the surface of society, power and human behaviour. Its cleverness is in what it leaves unsaid—the messages between the lines. It reminded me that satire can sometimes reveal truth more effectively than seriousness.

Film

A film I watched recently is the 2026 Spanish drama My Dearest Señorita. I found it deeply moving and felt heartbroken for the protagonist. What stayed with me was not simply the stigma surrounding self-acceptance, but her painful struggle with her own body and identity. Her strict family, rather than understanding her, effectively abandoned her emotionally, as though nothing was wrong. Like critics have noted, the film goes beyond identity and social acceptance. I would definitely recommend it for its emotional depth and honesty.

Internet

I regularly follow Pedullá Studio, run by craftsman Nick Pedullá. I admire the way he transforms woodworking into an art form, combining craftsmanship, design and remarkable attention to detail. What particularly catches my attention is his exceptional sense of organisation, from the planning of a piece through to its execution and presentation. As an artist, I find this discipline inspiring. His work demonstrates how craftsmanship, creativity and meticulous organisation can come together to create something both functional and genuinely artistic.

Music

I am a devoted follower of Italian music, particularly musica d’autore, so choosing one artist is difficult. However, Fiorella Mannoia remains a favourite. If I had to choose one album, it would be Fiorella (2014), which I return to for its emotional depth and lyrical sensitivity. Two tracks that particularly resonate with me are Notti di maggio and I dubbi dell’amore. Her music has a rare ability to express vulnerability, strength and the complexities of human relationships.

Place

Definitely Rome. I visit as often as I can because the city awakens something deeply creative in me. Its atmosphere, architecture, people, food and endless layers of history constantly recharge and inspire me. I love the smell of coffee drifting through the streets and the feeling that every corner has a story to tell. And somehow, hearing Michele Zarrillo’s Strade di Roma while walking through the city makes the experience even more special. Rome always leaves me creatively renewed.