An ever-green artist

Those who know sculptor Anton Agius may probably recall his fiery spirit - the unflinching artist, born with a fighting streak, forever searching for fresh ways and mediums through which to express his inventiveness.

However, those who have not had the chance to know him at close quarters now have the opportunity to get a glimpse of this ever-green artist with the publication of Anton Agius: Sculpture, a critical essay by Louis P. Saliba.

Published by PEG Ltd, the book carries 170 black and white photographs of works by Agius showing the development of his style from the early years when he trained under George Borg.

Agius is best known for works in olive wood and public monuments recalling the country's social and economic upheavals.

His subjects range from nudes to horses. A valid collection of works by Agius is on display at the Mdina Cathedral Museum.

One of his dreams was to be allowed to turn a natural rock cave into a huge gallery by sculpting animal and human figures in the rock face.

Alas, the dream has not come true, but the artist's passion for presenting the fate of heroes, both sung and unsung, in public monuments has found fertile ground.

In a foreword to the book, President Guido de Marco wrote among other things: "To those who have not had the opportunity of spending a long time with him, he may even appear abrasive.

"I have had the opportunity of spending some hours with Anton Agius - he is a sensitive artist who believes in and lives his art".

Agius has done a bronze bust of the president.

Speaking about a crucified Christ the artist gave him, Prof. de Marco wrote: "Here the hanging Christ makes the extreme sacrifice a serenity, a consumatum est. This is Anton Agius.

"His life is a search for serenity. Will he ever find it? I doubt it. For Anton Agius will never cease being an artist".