Malta and Gozo Students Prize 2024

This piece reflects how a mind yerns to express itself when words yield.

Imagine waking up from a dream about living in outer space and want to go back to that dream! Can I possibly live the dream again? Can I live there and experience it in real life? I’ve always been fascinated by outer space and science as it is surrounded by colorful planets, glittering and glistering stars, all set against the dark colored sky. Space is unique and endless because it is something that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

Eternal love – Idea started from a mind map about particular experience and evolved into a Surreal world, fascinated by the historical tragedy happened in the Italian city of Pompeii in A.D. 79. Inspired by the surreal works of Giorgio de Chirico and the architectural remains of the city of Pompeii. Past and present are visualised in the dramatic ruins of Pompeii and in the central vision of Pompeii in the past and the Vesuvian volcano, the cause of the disaster, at the background. The two lovers, frozen at the moment the city was buried under the ashes, their bodies and love are caressed by light and preserved for eternity. One can observe different aspects of the artistic process in the Artwork; detailed research and observations of the city of Pompeii, lots and lots of experimentation with different textures, direct work from observation using primary and secondary sources, such as mannequins, photos and others.

The colour and composition reflect the figures contrasting emotions. Warm colours in the centre of the piece reflect the love they feel for each other, however, because the hands are pulling the couple apart there is tension which I interpreted in broken brushstrokes and desaturated colours.

Malta has changed drastically since I was a toddler. Previously it was a pleasure to view the old capital city of Malta, Mdina. But NOW no longer. The countryside has vanished and has been invaded by high buildings and cranes (which mean more buildings). Trees are a rare find and are as precious as GOLD. Mixed media was used.

A portrait inspired by the urge to seek peace in the world. Two different fish depicting human race living in harmony and peace

My artwork is portraying an elderly man with his head slightly turned towards the left side with an ambivalent expression on his face. I used a soft and warm colour scheme to create a sense of nostalgia and tranquility. The feeling of saudade is making the man yearn to go back to his beloved yet absent days. The soft expression on his face shows that even though he is melancholic, the memories will forever last and he’ll always remember the days happily as he is grateful to have lived them.

A sculpture of a mask representing an illusion of identity and multiple personalities found in each individual. Inspired by Venetian masks, a sculpture made out of air dry clay and other media. The sculpture’s outer layer is colourful, balanced and graceful representing the outer image, the image someone wants the others to see and know about. On the other hand only for the good observers and few close ones, can see the feather ends, brush strokes and finger marks underneath which represent reality and experiences which build our real personality and identity. The colour palette was chosen to represent the Maltese identity.

This is a painting of my right hand with branches growing our of my finger tips. A number of colourful butterflies fly around the hand. The meaning behind the painting is that all living creatures depend on one another and ultimately affect each other. We are all connected and we are all in the same boat. Humans depend on trees for their oxygen and yet they still cut them. Deforestation has an adverse effect not only on the humanity, but also on all the other creatures that share the same planet.

We all experience at a certain point that life is not a fairytale. This point of realisation can be difficult to accept but it leads us to maturity, to be more careful and evaluate better our decisions.

This artwork was done by using mixed media; oil pastels, markers, and unused papers. When skaters do tricks on concrete surfaces, they’re not just leaving marks, they’re adding to the unique and always-changing culture of skateboarding. I created this artwork because I want to show the advantages of skateboarding and how it affects our society. The jeans hanging shows that skateboarding has a significant cultural impact, influencing fashion same as music and art. Moreover, when it comes to ‘Society’ Skate parks and skateboarding events create spaces for social interaction and community building which means they offer a sense of belonging, allowing people to form friendships and support, especially among younger generations. In conclusion, I want to prove that skateboarding plays a multifaceted role in society. It contributes to physical well-being, community development, and the celebration of diversity and individual expression.

This artwork is an allegory of oldness and death. The lonely tower that has been through its highs and lows is now standing in the winter landscape almost completely destroyed, but it still holds on. A person stands next it, his existence is dwarfed and seems insignificant in comparison to the powerful building. Despite the tower’s height and majesty, it is still fragile at the base that it seems that it is almost about to collapse. The artwork is mostly composed with pastel and slightly desaturated colours to give it a dreamy effect.

The student worked on a portrait of a woman and chose to work with a warm vs cool colour palette. She wanted to bring out contrasts, both in the portrait characteristics and mood, as well as foreground vs background…

This digital piece is inspired from construction works of buildings in Malta. It represents the increase in construction of buildings and the wide spectrum of buildings we have in each locality. It also shows through the comparison of sizes an overwhelming effect hits people living in these areas as they look outside. Them feeling overpowed by the huge buildings surrounding them.

The pencil color portrait vividly captures Mr. Bean’s comedic essence, showcasing his ability to bring joy by simply contorting his face into a mischievous smirk, turning any somber moment into laughter.

In the painting, there is a man wearing a long, brown coat and a hat, walking on a pavement in front of a brick building. his hands are in his pockets. The work reflects a simple daily walk enjoying the neighbourhood. Walking in a city is a symphony of urban delights. The sound of footsteps blends with cars hooting, people talking and children shouting creating a unique melody. Each step tells a unique story of urban exploration.

Life is like the sea; everyone is like a ship navigating the vast expanse of experiences. At times, it floats peacefully on calm waters, a serene journey where tranquillity prevails. Yet sometimes strong winds and turbulent waves emerge, symbolizing challenges and upheavals that test resilience. Each rise and fall in the waves tell a story, shaping the voyage of existence. The sun behind clouds reflects moments of obscured clarity, where shadows of uncertainty dance. However, there is always a ray of light, triggering the courage to face the wind and ride the waves, even if the pain can be firm to reach to the end. Despite the tempests, the boat sails forward, embodying perseverance and growth. Ultimately, like a boat finding its course, life unveils its beauty amid both serenity and storms, a constant ebb, and flow.

This painting represents creativity and artistic creation. The artist captures life in inanimate objects just like the sculptor of this painting immortalized this human being in stone. In stone this person will not age and therefore time is set to a still. I used oils because it is easy to blend and to create the smoothness of the statue’s surface.

This piece was inspired by my grandfather’s artwork and my love for horror. I took inspiration from both.

This mixed media work done with watercolours and oil pastels depicts an elderly man in a state of manic laughter. I wanted to capture his weathered, wrinkled face contorted with raw emotion. I layered the watercolours to create multiple versions of his face reflecting the complexity of his character.