Hilary Spiteri interviewed by Natasha Turner on Il-Mument Newspaper

Il-Hadd, 27 ta’ Novembru, 2011 - INTERVISTA

Artist minn kull dimensjoni 

Natasha Turner tintervista lil Hilary Spiteri

L-arti, il-muzika u l-fotografija huma l-akbar passjonijiet tieghu. Ghalkemm fit-tlieta li huma ha tahrig differenti, hu jhoss li huma tliet dixxiplini li jmorru hafna ma’ xulxin u li joffrulu spunt ta’ ispirazzjoni kontinwa. Ghandu wkoll passjoni kbira lejn it-taghlim u l-istorja tal-arti. Il-professjoni ta’ Hilary Spiteri – dik ta’ ghalliem – izzommu f’kuntatt mad-dinja ta’ madwaru filwaqt li l-istudenti tieghu jimlewh bil-hegga u l-kuragg biex ikollu hidma dejjiema. Is-suggett li hu tant ghal qalbu u li specjalizza fih jittratta l-arti akkademika prodotta fl-ewwel zminijiet tal-perjodu Ingliz f’Malta. Din ir-ricerka wasslitu biex jaghmel xi mawriet barraminn Malta biex jirricerka, specjalment f’Ruma. Fil-bidu ta’ dan ix-xahar ippubblika ktieb dwar ir-ricerki tieghu,bl-isem Academic, Artistic Training in Early British Malta. 

Xi tghidilna dwar il-pubblikazzjoni l-gdida tieghek?

Il-ktieb jismu Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta, prodott mill-Allied Publications. Dan joffri studju dettaljat fuq il-pedagogija akkademika artistika li kienet offruta f’Malta fl-ewwel sittin sena tal-hakma kolonjali Ingliza(1800-1860). Dan il-ktieb hu l-ewwel produzzjoni Maltija li tittratta b’mod dettaljat it-taghlim tal-arti fl-ewwel zminijiet tal-Inglizi f’Malta. 

Ir-ricerka li wettaqt tul l-ahhar snin ma kinitx facli. Grazzi ghall-appogg u l-ghajnuna li sibt mill-ghalliema u mill-kollegi, fosthom il-Professur Mario Buhagiar, il-Kap tad-Dipartiment tal-Istorja tal-Arti fl-Università ta’ Malta, u l-hidma kontinwa permezz tar-ricerka f’dokumenti originali, kemm f’Malta kif ukoll f’pajjizi ohra barra minn xtutna (Ruma u Londra), irrnexxieli nifforma stampa cara tal-istabbilimenti ewlenin f’Malta li kienu joffru l-mezzi didattici artistici u min kienu l-ghalliema, l-istudenti u l-artisti fl-ewwel nofs tas-seklu dsatax.

Il-ktieb joffri passagg ta’tliet stadji storici li ghadda minnhom pajjizna: it-tmiem tal-hakma tal-Ordni ta’ San Gwann, il-wasla tal-Francizi u l-irvellijiet tal-Maltin li wasslu ghall-hakma Ingliza.Din il-qalba halliet impatt qawwi fuq diversi aspetti, fosthom dawk politici u socjali. Fil-ktieb hemm spjegat b’certa reqqa, il-perijodu tat-transizzjoni li ghadda minnu l-istabbiliment edukattiv Malti. 

It-twaqqif tal-Iskola tad-Disinn fi hdan l-Università ta’Malta – li kienet taht it-tmexxija tal-Kanonku Francesco Saverio Caruana – kienet rivelazzjoni ghall-istudenti Maltin li kellhom ghal qalbhom l-arti u l-industrija. Persunaggi maghrufa fl-istorja tal-arti Maltija, fosthom Michele Busuttil, Giorgio  Pullicino, Pietro Paolo Caruana, Raffaele Caruana, MicheleBellanti, Giuseppe Calleja u Giuseppe Calì taw kontribut qawwi f’din l-iskola fejn iggwidaw lill-istudenti Maltin biex imorru jistudjaw l-arti f’akkademji rinomati barra minn xtutna u jaghtu gieh lil pajjizhom. Il-ktieb jittratta diversi elementi relatati mad-didattika artistika. 

Elementi mportanti hafna msemmi hul-introduzzjoni tal-Iskola tan-Nudo fi hdan l-istess Skola tad-Disinn. Aktar ’il quddiem, f’wiehed mill-kapitli, hemm prezentat studju dwar l-istatwi tal-gibs li jinsabu fl-iskola tal-arti kif ukoll fil-bini tal-Università l-Antika, il-Belt Valletta. Dawn l-istatwi kienu manifatturati u migjubin mill-Ewropa u jafu l-ewwel uzu taghhom propju fl-Iskola tad-Disinn. Ma jonqosx li nsemmi l-istudenti li attendew l-Iskola tad-Disinn. Infatti, rapprezentati wiehed isib mixeghla ta’ disinji maghmula mill-istess studenti Maltin, prizervati fil-Muzew tal-Arti, il-Belt Valletta, fejn jakkumpanjahom hemm studju relatat.

X’messaggi trid twassal bl-arti tieghek?

Personalment ma ghandix hafna pretensjonijiet ghall-arti tieghi. Qatt ma kelli f’mohhi li bl-arti tieghi nohloq xi rivoluzzjoni jew tibdil fid-dinja ta’ madwari. Ghaldaqstant dejjem infittex lix-xoghol tieghi jkun ricerkat kif jisthoqq u li jsir b’certu livell gholi ta’ dedikazzjoni. Jiena nfittex li bl-arti tieghi nohloq tbissima u esperjenza ta’ kulur. Uhud mill-aktar kummenti gratifikanti li qatt ircivejt fuq ix-xoghol tieghi kienu li l-kuluri huma vivaci u l-kompozizzjoni li nohloq inisslu sens ta’ ferh u tbissima f’dak li jkun. Dan ghalija jfisser hafna, ghaliex il-kwadru tieghi jkun wasal biex jolqot il-karattru emottiv ta’dak li jkun espost ghalih. 

Hemm xi nies li influwenzawk, u b’liema modi?

L-involviment tieghi fid-dinja tal-Istorja tal-Arti wassalni biex insir naf hafna aktar fuq artisti varji minn diversi perjodi tal-Istorja tal-Arti. Ghaldaqstant, zewg artisti li tassew jaffaxxinani x-xoghol taghhom huma Rembrandt u J.M.W. Turner. Il-kwalità tat-tessut, kif ukoll il-manipulazzjoni taz-zebgha taz-zejt fil-kwadri ta’ Rembrandt joffru spettaklu ghall-ghajn li mhux ta’ min jitilfu. Min-naha l-ohra, il-freskezza u l-ambjent atmosferiku li Turner jimmortalizza fix-xeni pittorici tieghu jittrasportawni f’dinja kulurita kompletament estranea ghalija.Fuq bazi lokali jattirani hafna d-disinn metikoluz u meqjus tal-artist Emvin Cremona. Barra minn hekk, l-ahhar u mhux l-inqas, artist lokali li tassew halla impatt qawwi fuqi hu Charles Cassar, li kontinwament jarrikkixxi l-karattru artistiku tieghi b’ispirazzjoni immaginattiva u b’forom kuluriti.

Tahseb li l-Maltin japprezzawha bizzejjed l-arti?

Il-poplu Malti hu poplu msawwar, sa minn zmien missirijietna, minn ghagna kulturali qawwija – naturalment, kulhadd fuq il-livell personali tieghu. Personalment inhoss li ghalkemm il-poplu Malti ghamel passi ta’ ggant fejn jidhol l-apprezzament artistiku, nahseb li fadal hafna xi jsir fejn tidhol l-edukazzjoni artistika. Jien inhoss li f’Malta l-edukazzjoni artistika hi sottovalutata, bil-kosegwenza li t-tahrig artistiku ingenerali fl-iskejjel Maltin jitqies fuq livell inferjuri jew vokazzjonali. Jiena nemmen li d-dixxiplina artistika, fuq diversi livelli, issawwar bniedem denju tal-istorja li ssawru u tat-twemmin li hu jhaddan!

Xi jdejqek jew xi jweggghek l-aktar fis-socjetà?

Is-socjetà ta’ madwari toffri bosta opportunitajiet. Ghaldaqstant jien ninsab imwegga’ minn sitwazzjoni ta’ menefregizmu (terminu li nhobb nuza hafna u li jfisser:“kulhadd jigi jaqa’ u jqum minn kollox”) li dan l-ahhar sar fenomenu komuni fiz-zghazagh, mhux biss Maltin imma anki globalment. Dan qed iwassal biex qed tkun generata atmosfera ta’nuqqas ta’ interess u hegga,dominata minn uzu abbuziv tad-dinja elettronika. Min-naha l-ohra, fuq livell lokali, jien ninsab urtat fuq in-nuqqas ta’ trasparenza f’kull livell tas-socjetà Maltija, lithaddan dan il-kuncett b’certa sahha. Mhuwiex facli li f’dan l-ambjent wiehed jirnexxi bil-progetti tieghu.

X’tixtieq l-aktar f’hajtek?

Hemm hafna affarijiet materjali li wiehed ikun jixtieq f’hajtu, fosthom is-success, ir-reputazzjoni u l-istabbiltà socjali. Ghalkemm, sincerament, inkun qed nonqos jekk ngnid li ma nixtieq xejn minn dan. Biss, nahseb li l-aktar li nixtieq huma affarijiet dejjiema, bhall-kuntentizza interna, li nemmen li twassal ghall-ispirazzjoni dejjiema, il-mutur / muza tal-artist. L-aktar haga li nixtieq fuq bazi lokali hi li l-element zaghzugh jinghata aktar cans ghall-espressjoni u iktar opportunitajiet biex wiehed javvanza u jesponi l-potenzjal tieghu. Inhoss li Malta tkun qed titlef meta diversi individwi jistabbilxxu ruhhom b’success barra minn xtutna minhabba li l-kwalitajiet eccellenti taghhom ma jkunux gew apprezzati, anzi spiccaw imwarrbin.

Ghal aktar informazzjoni dwar dan l-artist,wiehed jista’ jzur: 

www.hilaryspiteri.com

www.hilaryspiteri.blogspot.com

Hilary Spiteri featured on PBS re: Academic Artistic Training in early British Malta

The recently published book by Hilary Spiteri, entitled Academic Artistic Training in early British was featured on Malta' national television station PBS. The feature was written by Mr. Sergio Mallia and filmed by Mr. David Gutteridge.

The short clip, which was filmed at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta, summarizes the plot behind this new publication. It also discussed the highlights of this book offering a hands-on exposure of a number of original drawings, preserved in the Maltese national collection, which feature in the said publication. 

The feature stresses the importance of this publication as being the first one of its kind in Malta and also about the relevance of this study in our contemporary art practices.

The feature was produced in Maltese language.

Artistic scenario in early British Malta - www.timesofmalta.com

The makings of an artist.

We often look at the finished product – the installation, the painting, the sculpture, the form – forgetting to trace the trajectory that brought the creative process to fruition.

Artistic training, whether formal or informal, should not be overlooked, nor underestimated. And this is precisely what artist, educator and author Hilary Spiteri is bringing to the fore in his publication Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta being presented at this year’s Malta Book Fair.

Ahead of the presentation of his publication, Mr Spiteri shared some thoughts concerning his research, his choice of subject and context.

“Way back, as a student I recall attending a conference at the Old University Building in Valletta. It was then I came across part of the collection of classical plaster casts exhibited in the corridors leading to the Aula Magna. It was love at first sight!”

Soon after, he was to submit a proposal for a Master’s degree at the University of Malta. After showing interest in the subject and discussing the matter with History of Art head of department Mario Buhagiar, it was decided that he would focus on a chronological and socio-political artistic understanding of the context in Malta during the early 19th century under the newly-established British rule. “This was much needed, especially to bridge Malta’s glorious past under the Order of St John and the newly-set colonisation brought forward by the British.”

The purpose of this publication is to contribute as a comprehensive study of academic training and academic artistic production in Malta during the first half of the 19th century. “This is the first publication of its kind to broaden and adjust our perspective of the artistic scenario of early British Malta and to show how, in spite of the decline in official patronage, the University, under the enlightened direction of Mgr Caruana, succeeded in providing Malta with a respectable art academy. This was not an anticlimax but a new beginning and a benchmark development in Maltese Art History.”

The book summarises the research conducted by Mr Spiteri for his MA, however, he has re-assessed and amplified some areas of my research, especially the critical analysis provided on the collection of 19th century drawings present at the National Museum of Fine Arts (NMFA) while simultaneously citing reports related to the University of Literature and education in Malta during the first half of the 19th century. He explains how, originally, he had no pretension of featuring any stunning discoveries in his account. However, “Thanks to the help of Theresa Vella and the late Dennis Vella (at the time curators of the NMFA), I came across an invaluable collection of 19th century drawings present at the museum... I believe that this was a major discovery in assessing academic 19th century art in Malta. I strongly affirm that this collection is to be listed as a national treasure.”

This publication also presents a thorough research of 19th primary sources. This resulted in the unearthing of a number of practices adopted at the University of Literature at the time. The documents reveal the establishment of the Malta School of Design, its pedagogical programme and its didactic resources. During the process, Mr Spiteri also encountered some very interesting documents affirming the establishment of a life class under the tuition of artist Michele Busuttil. “This was a 19th century milestone in Malta considering the rigid religious conservative attitude prevailing at the time,” he explained.

“I also ought to mention a very important report written by Canon Emmanuele Rosignaud in 1839, preserved at the Malta National Archives, which I brought to light. This report offers an outstanding scientific account of the education in Malta during the first half of the 19th century.”

Mr Spiteri consequently explains how this publication bridges Malta’s Knights period and the British imprint on the islands: “This scarcely-researched period has drawn the attention of a number of art historians, but most of their writings were limited to a general overview, due to the lacunae present in most of the public archives. The merit of the publication thus lies in a much needed attempt to broaden and adjust our perspective of the artistic scenario of early British Malta.” Mr Spiteri hopes that his publication will mark the beginning of a series of studies featuring Malta’s 19th century academic artistic training and the art being produced at the time. “My intention is to pursue in studying this artistic period in depth thereby contributing to the enrichment of art history in Malta.”

Presently, Mr Spiteri is dedicating his time to promoting his book locally and internationally.

Meanwhile, as an educator, he is driven by the love and passion to acquire knowledge about his country’s artistic identity, availing himself to further research the ample grounds which this field of study offers. His profession on the other hand together with his artistic activity and production compliment his research and embody his fulfilment.

• Academic Artistic Training In Early British Malta is published by Allied Publications and will be for sale at Word for Word, Castille Place, Valletta and all leading bookshops.

Academic Artistic Training in early British Malta by Hilary Spiteri - Available in all leading bookstores