My essentials: Antoine Paul Camilleri’s cultural picks

About

My passion has always been art. I like to venture and experiment in different media. I have worked with clay and ceramic sculptures but I have also tried metal sculpture, welding, cold cast bronze, sculpture in wax for bronze casting, glass fusion, printing, lino prints, woodcuts, etching, acrylic on canvas, watercolour, pen and ink, and paper cuts.  Lately, I am working on the technique of batik.

I also try to remain fit, and when I was younger, I used to practice powerlifting. Today I still go to the gym three times a week, less weights, more cardio. I try to be positive.

Book

I usually read books related to art and the history of art. I recently found a copy of the publication Camille: The Life Of Camille Claudel, Rodin’s Muse And Mistress. An interesting read. It shows the tragic ending of this artist, who was, if not an equal, more talented than her master. Newspapers are not that popular; however, I like to browse on the internet to see if any photo or image interests me. Usually, I print or save such an image, for future reference, mostly for sculpture. 

Film

Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley, based on the novel by Denis Johnson, with Joel Edgeton as main actor. It tells the story of the life of Robert Grainer in the area on the Great Northern Railway. The hard work of logging and how things changed from the railway to other bridges and the automobile. The performance of actor Joel Edgeton is brilliant. An incident during work leaves a mark on his life.

His life changes when he meets his future wife, Gladys, and they later have a daughter, Kate.

An interesting watch for an audience who prefer good acting, direction, editing, and filming.

Internet & TV

I do not browse that much on the internet. Usually, I find time after 8pm to sit down near my PC and check on something that is of interest to me.

It is very useful, however, to learn new techniques and materials used in art and craft. I got interested in batik through the internet; it is very popular in Indonesia, and they have great skills. However, I try to take the technique from craft to art. It is very important to distinguish between what is craft and what is a work of art. A topic that needs to be taken more seriously in Malta.

Music

I prefer classical music, composers such as Hans Aimer, Ennis Morrison, Evangeline, and others. Their music enlightens a person, and I find that it lifts my spirit. I prefer to hear the music with my headphones, alone in my study.

Place

A place where I used to go for peace and quiet was Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. The temples and the environment are unique and inspiring.

However, things changed when the canopy was installed. I know something had to be done to protect the temples but the whole concept changed. Today, with the technology and know-how, other structures could be used, using the latest glass protection systems.

Last year I visited China. It was a wonderful experience, something I had dreamed of for years. I was awarded a scholarship back in 1980 from the Chinese Embassy in art and the process of casting in bronze, however, the company where I worked refused to grant me any leave without pay, and the opportunity was lost. Next on my bucket list is the Grand Egyptian Museum.