A palette that speaks of happiness
There is something about the art of Ilina Filipova that stands out. It is recognisable in a crowd. The colours come first, sun dappled. Everything is infused with an energy that can be tangibly felt, bubbling and spilling over. Whether she's painting a...
There is something about the art of Ilina Filipova that stands out. It is recognisable in a crowd. The colours come first, sun dappled. Everything is infused with an energy that can be tangibly felt, bubbling and spilling over. Whether she's painting a Malta seaside image or a portrait, this artist manages to imprint the canvas with her undisputedly positive energy.
The paintings provide very much the same sensation one experiences on meeting the artist herself. A Bulgarian, she has become adopted by Malta, or rather, adopted Malta for her home, over a stretch of 17 years. In the process she came to love Gozo as well and loves to retreat there for inspiration.
She has been keeping busy all along. Led to paint by a grandfather who was a painter and a sculptor, she was born next to the largest monastery in Bulgaria - Rila Monastery, situated to the south in rural country. It was the intimacy with monastic environments that probably first inspired her to compose icons.
Ms Filipova's religious icons stand out for their excellence. Byzantine in style, yet harmoniously placed firmly in the 21st century, they relate to the onlooker in a pensive attitude, yet one which is not morbose or overwhelming. Juxtaposing these icons against her more prolific work, it makes one wonder how this woman could create such deeply contemplative works.
"I am a happy person. For me colours come first. But I don't feel like the same thing every day, so the icons, which are very special, happen on quieter days."
One of her greatest achievements in this category has been the nine-foot crucifix that is today suspended at St Mary of Angels Church in Bahar ic-Caghaq - tempera on wood, more specifically solid Brazilian mahogany that has an internal structure of metal for added strength. It took her three years to complete in the ancient tempera tradition which calls for immense patience and precision.
The rest of the time, she's working on an outburst of creativity that holds nothing in check. From flowers, on to scenic views, back to angels and somewhere in between clowns in all their merriment. Yet, everything is colour dappled, alive and spirited with energy.
She works mostly in acrylics but admits to the ability of working in all mediums. Yet, whatever her project at hand, she takes long to reach completion, touching and re-touching works, fiddling with elaborate details that can be painstakingly long-winded - in short, she constantly seeks perfection.
"I don't do one painting at a time, but more often than not, have many going at the same time. I work on whichever my mood takes me to."
Ms Filipova is certainly keeping busy. She has been invited to exhibit her work in the Florence Art Biennale in December - an unexpected invitation of which she is extremely proud, most especially since all participating artists are only and uniquely allowed to exhibit strictly by invitation.
Throughout winter, she teaches art at the Newark College and has recently been very happy to see one of her pupils, 14-year-old Terence Vella, clinch the first prize at a carnival competition with his painting of clowns.
She mentions this event as one of her achievements, a personal satisfaction in seeing that her pupils are learning and learning well.
In the meantime, she prepares her canvases in bold colours and bulky frames for the Hilton show, which sees about 20 of her works on display - and yes, there is a sampling of everything she loves to paint - icons, Maltese and Gozitan scenes, angels, clowns and some innovations - surprises in the form of female nudes. Summer Frolics embraces them all.
Summer Frolics - art by Ilina Filipova - is at the Hilton Malta foyer until the end of August. The artist will be at the venue painting and available to meet visitors.
The paintings provide very much the same sensation one experiences on meeting the artist herself. A Bulgarian, she has become adopted by Malta, or rather, adopted Malta for her home, over a stretch of 17 years. In the process she came to love Gozo as well and loves to retreat there for inspiration.
She has been keeping busy all along. Led to paint by a grandfather who was a painter and a sculptor, she was born next to the largest monastery in Bulgaria - Rila Monastery, situated to the south in rural country. It was the intimacy with monastic environments that probably first inspired her to compose icons.
Ms Filipova's religious icons stand out for their excellence. Byzantine in style, yet harmoniously placed firmly in the 21st century, they relate to the onlooker in a pensive attitude, yet one which is not morbose or overwhelming. Juxtaposing these icons against her more prolific work, it makes one wonder how this woman could create such deeply contemplative works.
"I am a happy person. For me colours come first. But I don't feel like the same thing every day, so the icons, which are very special, happen on quieter days."
One of her greatest achievements in this category has been the nine-foot crucifix that is today suspended at St Mary of Angels Church in Bahar ic-Caghaq - tempera on wood, more specifically solid Brazilian mahogany that has an internal structure of metal for added strength. It took her three years to complete in the ancient tempera tradition which calls for immense patience and precision.
The rest of the time, she's working on an outburst of creativity that holds nothing in check. From flowers, on to scenic views, back to angels and somewhere in between clowns in all their merriment. Yet, everything is colour dappled, alive and spirited with energy.
She works mostly in acrylics but admits to the ability of working in all mediums. Yet, whatever her project at hand, she takes long to reach completion, touching and re-touching works, fiddling with elaborate details that can be painstakingly long-winded - in short, she constantly seeks perfection.
"I don't do one painting at a time, but more often than not, have many going at the same time. I work on whichever my mood takes me to."
Ms Filipova is certainly keeping busy. She has been invited to exhibit her work in the Florence Art Biennale in December - an unexpected invitation of which she is extremely proud, most especially since all participating artists are only and uniquely allowed to exhibit strictly by invitation.
Throughout winter, she teaches art at the Newark College and has recently been very happy to see one of her pupils, 14-year-old Terence Vella, clinch the first prize at a carnival competition with his painting of clowns.
She mentions this event as one of her achievements, a personal satisfaction in seeing that her pupils are learning and learning well.
In the meantime, she prepares her canvases in bold colours and bulky frames for the Hilton show, which sees about 20 of her works on display - and yes, there is a sampling of everything she loves to paint - icons, Maltese and Gozitan scenes, angels, clowns and some innovations - surprises in the form of female nudes. Summer Frolics embraces them all.
Summer Frolics - art by Ilina Filipova - is at the Hilton Malta foyer until the end of August. The artist will be at the venue painting and available to meet visitors.