Rumours of a more sinister aspect of carnival in Gozo abound. According to some in certain localities men in white-pointed hoods and monks’ robes sprinkle cow’s blood over the spectators to promote fertility, while people doing penance for their sins walk with bare feet in a wailing procession dragging shackles and chains, while fools and jesters mock them.

Personally, I am not sure whether such eerie decadent revelries ever took place. However, it is perhaps this darker aspect of human nature that inspired artist Katrina Rose Vella’s artworks which are exhibited at Carnival Culture – Contemporary Art at the Gozo Citadel.

Vella’s photographs caught my attention with their original perspective and evanescent nature. Her zest for art as well as for her personal project , Bloodography, was apparent throughout her interview.

Where did Bloodography originate from and why the focus on blood?

I had always wanted to create a project where I could portray my love for horror and gore but I always kept it to myself until 2011 when Bloodography was born. Combining the love for photography with blood was something I had in mind for some time, where the blood aspect is used to give a certain soft morbid feel to the photo and the theme itself.

How would you describe your unique style – why focus on the darker aspects of life?

I don’t like to describe my style to be honest but if I had to I would say it’s quite a moving one for sure. Why shouldn’t we focus on the darker aspects of life? I think there are particular moments in one’s life which help us grow as human beings and I just like to get them out of my mind by portraying them in my art.

The two artworks you will be exhibiting during Carnival Culture are two perfect examples of fine art photography as they show your own unique perspective of this festival. What other artistic mediums do you usually use to express yourself?

Acrylics and soft pastels are my favourite mediums to work with and sometimes even ink, but it’s very rare that I share these pieces because they are very personal to me and reflect my emotions at that particular time. I usually express myself mostly through abstracts. I like to take a blank canvas and just paint with my fingers, it’s like a little ritual to me which helps me let all my emotions out.

Sorrow and anger are emotions which are definitely present in your work. Where do they come from? Do you portray your own personal feelings or are you referring to something else?

Most of my work is definitely influenced by a particularly difficult time in my life and I use these feelings to create a beautiful dark story. However, sometimes I also refer to general aspects of life today such as our society and religion, which create such a deep impact on me as on everyone.

Chiaroscuro is a prominent effect in many of your photographs. Why is the play of light and shadow such an important aspect of your vision?

One of my favourite painters of all time is Caravaggio who is truly the master of Chiaroscuro. I think light is a photographer’s best friend as it can totally change the feel of any photograph. Personally, I like to play a lot with shadows and coloured light which I believe helps a lot to create a soft morbid feel to my work.

What type of camera and what lighting equipment do you use on a shoot?

I am a pretty much an old school kind of person. My camera is semi-professional – it’s a Fujifilm Fine pix s1500, but although I have quite professional lighting equipment I still prefer to use either natural sunlight or candles as primary lighting and I think that’s another aspect which brings out the rawness of my photography.

What inspires you? Is there a particular contemporary artist you can cite?

Various things inspire me. Life in general is one of them. The people I love most inspire me every day. Classic and 1970s horror cult films also inspire me as well as poetry and music. Nature too has a big part to play. If I had to mention a contemporary artist I would definitely mention David Patchett, who perhaps is most well-known for creating album cover art for heavy metal bands such as Cathedral and Iron Maiden.

Can you briefly describe your method of creation?

Finishing a photo shoot or piece of art is not easy, sometimes it takes months, not to mention loads of patience. The first thing I do is to transfer the idea into a sketch so I have it clear in front of me, then I decide whether it’s going to be an indoor or outdoor shoot. If it’s going to be an outdoor one, I go out roaming to find the perfect location and I take my camera with me so I can test the light at that particular spot. Props need to be ready beforehand. After that one needs to find a model who has the right features and is willing to pose with fake blood on her/him and in a particular theme. Finally, I consult a make-up artist for the special effects.

What do you think about the opportunities for visual artists in Malta?

Honestly, I don’t think that there are so many opportunities in general for artists locally unless they are already established as such. Those artists who, like me, have a particular and perhaps less conventional vision have an even tougher time of it.

Katrina Rose Vella, 26, possesses a Certificate of Merit by the Caravaggio Foundation and a Diploma in Art and Design from Mcast Institute of Art and Design. She participated in the 2013 and 2016 exhibitions organised by CoMa. Her first solo exhibition was in 2013 as part of the 4th edition of Dar il-Waħx (Haunted House).

Carnival Culture is organised annually by the members of the Community of Malta Artists to Gozo. Over 100 works are on exhibit until Tuesday.

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