FIMBank plc is sponsoring an art exhibition by artist Matthew Kassar entitled New Places. The exhibition, which will be housed at the German-Maltese Circle at Messina Palace in Valletta, will be open to the public until April 28.
New Places is inspired by Valletta. Kassar frequently goes to the capital and admires the beautiful and historical city. He is always struck by its antiquity, uniqueness and splendour. Valletta has a creative influence on Kassar and he acknowledges the importance and effect this heritage has on us as Maltese, and how greatly they inspire him as an artist.
When Kassar paints the elements of our culture, he always gives a different interpretation, and through New Places, he wanted to see these elements through a different lens by using various mediums. For Kassar, this exhibition is an opportunity to honour our culture, which has influenced him greatly in his painting career.
Kassar was born in 1968 and from an early age, he showed a lot of interest in art and his earliest toys were pencils and paper. He used to spend hours with his father George, a talented carpenter, at the workshop, playing around with all kinds of materials that were at hand, from nails, sawdust and white glue to sandpaper and plywood. These were the roots of Kassar’s artistic abilities and later flourished in his obsession with using different and unconventional materials in his paintings.
Kassar attended summer art courses at Palazzo De La Salle in Valletta from the age of seven under Anthony Degiovanni. Later, he studied under Alfred Chircop at the Government Sixth Form in Msida. Chircop was truly a mentor to Kassar. The greatest lesson Kassar learnt was that art could develop as a way of life and not just a hobby. Chircop was the means through which Matthew’s raw and course talent developed into a refined artist. Kassar attended the Government School of Art from 1987 till 1990 under the tutorship of Harry Alden, Joseph Casha, Charles Cassar, Joseph L. Mallia and Emmanuel Fiorentino.
Kassar exhibited his first work at the Maltafest Art Exhibition in 1990. His first personal exhibition was held in Bay Street, St Julian’s and was made up of a number of abstract paintings very much influenced by the work of Chircop. His technique of newspaper collage and acrylic and various other materials such as gesso and glue developed gradually, but can trace its beginning in his abstract works.
Kassar has held a number of personal and collective exhibitions, both locally and abroad. At present, he teaches art at the junior school at De La Salle College, Vittoriosa.