'Wasted' talent due to lack of art appreciation

In Malta there is a pronounced shortage of schools that give due weight to art and, as a result, the great talent of many artists was not being exploited, a seasoned artist argues.

David Xuereb, 44, believes there is a lot of talent out there just waiting to be tapped but because of the way things stand few get the chance to expose their work.

In an attempt to do something to change the situation, Mr Xuereb opened his own gallery last year in a bid to give budding artists the opportunity to exhibit their works and also to provide classes for keen enthusiasts.

"Sometimes people come into the gallery to frame a piece and when I ask them whose work it is they say it's their stuff. They would never have exhibited it because they may not feel confident enough, yet their work is very good," he said.

Mr Xuereb is one of 20 artists taking part in a collective exhibition that opens today and runs until Thursday, at the Vivaldi Golden Tulip Hotel, St Julians.

The first Vivaldi Arts Expression is the brainchild of Christine Calleja, who has such an admiration for art that she wanted to organise a collective exhibition, which she hopes will become an annual event. Evidently possessing an untiring spirit, she has single-handedly organised the exhibition that includes a collection of 130 pieces, ranging from limestone sculptures and photography to poetry works and paintings.

Mr Xuereb's eight pieces on display include acrylics on the back of glass or paper and semi-abstracts, among others.

"My passion is to experiment with different media from wood stains to PVA glue, acrylics and creating new techniques. I spend hours experimenting to see if something works," he said.

Brushes are a last resort for Mr Xuereb, who prefers to paint using pieces of wood or glass and occasionally his fingers.

"I try to vary my work and focus a lot on the technique to provide something unique before moving on to something new," he said.

His passion for art became amply evident to his family when he started sculpting pendants for his siblings from stone. He spent 18 years doing woodwork, followed by a stint at the Malta Shipbuilding working in radiography. Seeing no future at the 'yard Mr Xuereb decided to expand his frame-making business and went on to open the gallery and work there full-time.

It's hard for Maltese artists to live solely off their work and that is why Mr Xuereb makes frames to subsidise his work and keep the business going.

Is there a market out there for so many artists and their work?

"It's not all about selling. Art is about sharing your creation with others. Each time I sell a piece I feel like I'm selling off a part of myself. Sometimes I even regret selling my art off," he admits.

Mr Xuereb believes that being an artist cannot always be a full-time profession and many were opting to promote their work on the internet and sell their work abroad.

A big promoter of local art, Mr Xuereb welcomed Ms Calleja's initiative to put together this collective exhibition.

The artists who will be participating are: Ray Azzopardi, Charles Bonnici, Robert Camilleri, Jeanine Cauchi, Mark Debono, Fabrizio Ellul, Noel Fabri, George Farrugia, Marlene Ferry Camilleri, Johanna Fiorini Lowell, Cedric Galea Pirotta, Mikela Gonzi, Josephine Grixti, Otello Maga, Jacqueline Micallef, Christine Pirotta, Berta Pisani Bencini, Mark Schembri, David Xuereb, Chris Zarb.