ARTISTS AND OPTICS - Lecture by Hilary Spiteri

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ARTISTS AND OPTICS  

photography techniques employed by artists 300 years before the advent of photography

Hilary Spiteri will be holding a lecture entitled Artists and Optics where he will be discussing the very first photography techniques employed by artists 300 years before the Deguerrian practices of photography.

The lecture will be held at Corinthia Hotel, St Georges Bay, St Julians Malta on the 4th of January 2012 at 20:00.

The lecture is open to the general public.

Leonardo: A painter at the Court of Milan - A worth visiting exhibition!

Artistically speaking, December 2011 presented me a great opportunity of visiting the British capital, London, and paying a visit at the world renowned current exhibition: Leonardo: A painter at the Court of Milan.  Mr Patrick Sammut, my fellow colleague, and five students accompanied me throughout this late 15th century Leonardian tour.

Some information about the exhibition

Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ is the most complete display of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings ever held. This unprecedented exhibition – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – brings together sensational international loans never before seen in the UK.

Leonardo the artist

While numerous exhibitions have looked at Leonardo da Vinci as an inventor, scientist or draughtsman, this is the first to be dedicated to his aims and techniques as a painter. Inspired by the recently restored National Gallery painting, The Virgin of the Rocks, this exhibition focuses on Leonardo as an artist. In particular it concentrates on the work he produced as court painter to Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan in the late 1480s and 1490s.

As a painter, Leonardo aimed to convince viewers of the reality of what they were seeing while still aspiring to create ideals of beauty – particularly in his exquisite portraits – and, in his religious works, to convey a sense of awe-inspiring mystery.

Works on display

Featuring the finest paintings and drawings by Leonardo and his followers, the exhibition examines Leonardo’s pursuit for perfection in his representation of the human form.  Works on display include ‘La Belle Ferronière’ (Musée du Louvre, Paris), the ‘Madonna Litta’ (Hermitage, Saint Petersburg) and ‘Saint Jerome’ (Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome).

The two versions of Leonardo’s ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ – belonging to the National Gallery and the Louvre – were shown together for the first time.

The final part of the exhibition features a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of Leonardo’s famous ‘Last Supper’, on loan from the Royal Academy. Seen alongside all the surviving preparatory drawings made by Leonardo for the 'Last Supper', visitors will discover how such a large-scale painting was designed and executed.

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

Hilary Spiteri interviewed on his latest publication Academic Artistic Training in early British Malta by Mariella Pisani Bencini on MEANDER.

Hilary Spiteri featured on Il-GENS by Patrick Sammut

Hilary Spiteri llum huwa lecturer tal-Istorja tal-Arti fis-Sitt Klassi tal-Kulleġġ ta’ De La Salle. Huwa parti mill-grupp Footprints li jdoqq mużika tal-ġeneru Christian Rock. Huwa wkoll wieħed mill-artisti żgħażagħ kontemporanji u fotografu dilettant. Dan l-aħħar ħareġ il-ktieb tiegħu bl-isem ta’ Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta. Għal iktar tagħrif wieħed jista’ jara s-sit: www.hilaryspiteri.com 

L-Intervista:

1. X’inhu l-isfond tiegħek f’rabta mad-dinja tal-Arti?

Fil-prezent nista nghid li l-Arti tinvolvi parti sostanzjali minn hajti. Hija kemm il-professjoni tieghi kif ukoll il-passatemp tieghi. Fuq bazi personali jien involut artisitikament fi produzzjoni ta’ arti pittorika, muzika kif ukoll kitba.

2. Minn fejn bdiet l-idea li tippubblika xogħol bħal dan?

Din ir-ricerka taf il-bidu taghha meta kont ghadni student unversitarju. Infatti l-bicca l-kbira tar-ricerka saret ghall-Masters li jiena ghamilt fid-Dipartiment tal-Istorja tal-Arti fl-Università ta’ Malta. Xi ftit snin wara li wettaqt b’success dan l-istudju, sibt hafna inkoraggiment minn kollegi u hbieb sabiex ngholli din ir-ricerka ghall-livell ta’ publikazzjoni. Minkejja li kienet triq twila u xi mdaqqiet b’hafna ostakoli, nista nghid li l-perseveranza wasslitni sabiex intemm dan il-progett li jaghti gieh lill-istorja ta’ art twelidi.

3. X’tittratta eżattament din il-pubblikazzjoni tiegħek? Kemm ħaditlek żmien biċċa xogħol bħal din?

Il-ktieb bit-titlu 'Academic Artistic Training in early British Malta', 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 huwa l-ewwel produzzjoni Maltija li tittratta b’mod dettaljat it-taghlim tal-arti fl-ewwel zminijet bikrija tal-Inglizi f’Malta. 

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

4. Għal min hija mmirata l-aktar? 

Din il-publikazzjoni hija wahda ta’ natura teknika. Ghaldaqstant inhoss li l-element viziv kif ukoll l-adattament tal-kitba jghinu sabiex din il-publikazzjoni sservi bhala passagg li jittratta l-aspetti artistiku, socjali u politiku f’Malta, fl-ewwel snin tal-hakma Ingliza.

5. Inħoss li element importanti ħafna f’din il-pubblikazzjoni huwa l-aspett viżiv. Xi tgħid dwar dan?

L-aspett viziv ta’ din il-publikazzjoni involva ammont sostanzjali ta’ energija u xoghol sabiex il-prodott ikun wiehed tal-oghla livell. It-tfassil u l-issettjar huwa wiehed ta’ natura semplici u diretta sabiex jagevola lill-qarrej. Min-naha l-ohra, huwa ta’ min japprezza r-rikkezza fotografika tax-xoghlijiet artisitici li toffri din il-publikazzjoni. Kull dettal gie evalwat sabiex il-qarrej ikollu pprovuduta gwida viziva parallela mal-kontenut. 

6. X’inhi l-importanza ewlenija ta’ ktieb bħal dan? 

Dan il-ktieb jiftah tieqa fuq aspetti interessanti fuq il-perjodu Ingliz ta’ Malta fejn ftit li xejn gie apprezzat u ricerkat. Dan il-ktieb joffri nisga ta’ avvenimenti artistici li sehhew f’Malta u li mmodifikaw l-identita taghna bhala poplu.

7. Żgur li Malta qed terġa’ titqiegħed fuq quddiem bi proġett bħal dan. Xi tgħid dwar hekk?

Malta kellha x-xorti li ghaddiet minn taht l-idejn ta’ diversi hakkiema li ddominaw b’supremazija fl-ibhra tal-Ewropa. Tajjeb li wiehed josserva li meta Malta saret kolonja Ingliza, hija saret parti minn dominju kbir li bla ebda dubju halla impatt qawwi u pożittiv fuq livell amministrattiv u edukattiv. Din il-publikazzjoni titfa’ dawl fuq dan il-progress u kif Malta zammet pari passu mal-medda taz-zmien.

8. Xi tgħid dwar it-tagħlim tal-Arti fl-iskejjel Maltin illum? Għamilna pass lura jew ’il quddiem? X’jista’ jsir għall-aħjar?

L-arti fl-iskejjel Maltin hadet spinta ’l quddiem. Min-naha l-ohra nahseb li fadal hafna xi jsir sabiex l-istudenti taghna jingħataw formazzjoni artistika kompluta. Personalment inhoss li n-nuqqas ta’ rizorsi presenti fl-iskejjel kif ukoll in-nuqqas ta’ rikonixximent tad-dixxiplina artisitka fuq livell terzjarju qed jillimitaw dan is-suggett. 

9. Inti kif tirrikonċilja x-xogħol tiegħek ta’ għalliem, l-attività kreattiva tiegħek bħala artist u proġetti ambiżżjużi u ta’ natura akkademika bħal dan il-ktieb tiegħek?

L-attività artisitka, il-professjoni tieghi u n-natura akkademika jinvolvu hafna hin u hsieb u ghalqadstant mhux daqshekk facli sabiex wiehed jilhaq kompromess. Min-naha l-ohra nhoss li din hija nisga fejn ghandek elementi differenti li jikkumplimentaw lil xulxin u jaghmlu l-affarijiet aktar interessanti. Dan iservi ta’ stimulu sabiex navvanza aktar ’il quddiem bil-progetti tieghi li ghaldaqstant iservu ta’ kontribut ghas-socjetà li naghmel parti minnha.

Intervista ta' Patrick Sammut

Hilary Spiteri featured on MUZAJK by Natasha Turner

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.