Like it says on the tin - a page with mostly yellowed newspaper cuttings and other stuff which sits best here I guess...
My first exhibition...
The brochure notes from my 1988 exhibition. A bit of prose which I still like even though some of the elements and references are dated.
I mean - does anybody remember the soap opera Dallas? One of the drawings in the exhibition was called The Hunchback in the Park -
inspired by the poem of the same name by Dylan Thomas. The phrase 'solitary mister' is also nicked from the poem.
I mean - does anybody remember the soap opera Dallas? One of the drawings in the exhibition was called The Hunchback in the Park -
inspired by the poem of the same name by Dylan Thomas. The phrase 'solitary mister' is also nicked from the poem.
Press release promoting my first exhibition which appeared in The Democrat, a weekly newspaper which ceased publication since then. The graphic and the blurb worked well together and most newspapers obliged in publishing both. Different graphics were sent out to different newspapers.
Review of my first solo exhibition which appeared in The Times (Malta) on the 9th of May 1988. Written by Dominic Cutajar - at the time the curator of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Malta.
Environmental activism...
For as long as I can remember someone has always wanted to "develop" Ta Cenc in one way or another. In 1990 it was a company called Realfinanz which wanted to build a village resort complete with golf course on the largest garigue in Gozo. Later attempts would be made to bulid villas, apartments and all sorts of other variations on the 1990 theme. Up to now thankfully Ta Cenc remains the largest wild open space in Gozo with some awesome cliff scenery. I was actively involved in the 1990 campaign and contributed these three drawings for the printed media.
Almost famous...
...but not quite. In 1989 I was invited along with a few other Maltese artists to exhibit in Florence's Galleria Renzo Spagnoli. I did not go up for the opening of the exhibition but visited a few days later with the sculptor Andrew Diacono, who was also showing work in this exhibition. I had known Andrew for a few short months at the time but he was a brilliant travelling companion. My drawing Maltese Metropolis made it in Florence's newspaper La Nazione of 29th January 1989. Then...
...in 2002 the same drawing was included in the publication The International Dictionary of Artists who Painted Malta, written by Nicholas de Piro. Maltese Metropolis is incorrectly referred to here as Republic Street, which it does represent anyway. However as the blurb says I am indeed a "talented caracaturist" (sic)
My second exhibition...
Brochure note from my 1991 exhibition written by Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne at the time was just starting on her journalistic career with a popular opinion piece in The Sunday Times (Malta). Rather than ask an art critic to write the obligatory exhibition note for me I opted for something fresher and sent off a letter (no emails back then) to Daphne (I had no idea who she was at the time) with my request, to which she very generously obliged. Daphne was also the catalyst for me to start cartooning for the Sunday Times - for which I will always be grateful. Daphne now writes for the Malta Independent and runs the most popular (and controversial) blog in Malta - Running Commentary.
Note: Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated in Malta on 16th October 2017.
Note: Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated in Malta on 16th October 2017.
Review of my second exhibition by the late Emanuel Fiorentino which appeared in the Sunday Times (Malta) of the 28th April 1991. If you REALLY want to read it you may have to increase the zoom level on your screen...
Another review of my 1991 exhibition, this time Adrian Stivala writing in The Times (Malta) on 1st May 1991. More than a bit flattering. I still blush when I read the first bit...
Book review...
Review by Dr.Gorg Mallia of Professor Joe Friggieri's book L-Istejjer tar-Ronnie which apeared in The Sunday Times (Malta) on 4th September 1994. The write-up featured a couple of my illustrations for the book.
My return to exhibiting after a very long absence. Xebgha Nies proved to be a very successful joint exhibition featuring nine artists and broadly focusing on portraying a different, often humorous, view of humanity. Above is a snippet by Marie Benoit from The Malta Independent of 2nd March 2014.
My artwork for Divine Sinners' fourth album gets some positive press by the band members. Article by Ramona Depares in The Sunday Times (Malta) of 25th May 2014.
A two-page feature in the Times of Malta's 80th Anniversary supplement issued on 9th August 2015 in which I talk shop. Full text of the article can be found here.