Maltese artist at Fine Arts Colony

Young Maltese artist Jean Karl Izzo recently represented Malta at the Fine Arts Colony of the Ljubljana Festival. Seven other artists hailing from Ireland, Italy, Bulgaria and Slovenia participated with Izzo in this event.

Izzo produced two paintings, both of which received positive feedback from the festival organisers, the media in Ljubljana and from members of the public who viewed the works.

Both paintings have been chosen by the director of the Ljubljana Festival, Darko Brlek, and the curator of the Fine Arts Colony, Tomo Vran, to be kept in the permanent Fine Arts Collection of the Ljubljana Festival, which comprises works from the 12 international fine arts colonies held to date.

The exhibition will remain open in Ljubljana Castle for a month and then it will move to five other venues in different cities across Europe before returning to Slovenia for permanent exhibition.

Commenting on his experience in Ljubljana, Izzo said: “It was a positive experience for me, providing me with the necessary exposure in the international field even though I am still in my early stages of my career.”

This participation has opened new opportunities for the 24-year-old artist. He is working on his next research project and exhibition which will be held next year in Ireland in collaboration with Patricia Bennett, an established Irish artist who also participated in the Ljubljana Fine Arts Colony and who invited him to organise an exhibition with her.

Ljubljana Festival lasts all summer and assembles various forms of art such as ballet, opera, theatre, music and visual arts.

The visual artists invited each year undertake their creative work mainly in Krizanke (a 13th century monastery), where they can be inspired by the orchestral melodies of the evening concerts and nearby theatre performances.

The event is organised in conjunction with Zararti Foundation, a voluntary, non-profit organisation which is also a member of the European Council of Artists. Its mission is to promote art and culture, primarily among children and youth.

Izzo held his first solo exhibition at St James Cavalier last November.

Some of the artists’ works can be viewed on his website, www.jeankarlizzo.com.