On November 5, the Plaza Shopping Centre, Sliema, hosted several art students within its common areas for an art competition.
I try to keep my line of work as clean and fluent as possible
This competition was coupled with an exhibition of paintings by John Martin Borg, James Vella Clark, Alexia Coppini and Joe Pace Ross, set up in the Plaza malls. Art was beautifully coupled with fashion.
The Plaza Art Competition was open to students aged over 16, and the first prize was €500 to spend in any of the centre’s outlet. There were also runner-up prizes.
Visiting the Plaza on that November afternoon was an unusual shopping experience. Shoppers were not only greeted by paintings in shop windows, but by several art students working away at their canvases, some tidy, some messy, using materials and easels. The theme was, as one would expect, related to shopping.
The winning entry was that of History of Art graduate Daniela Attard. The adjudicating panel was in agreement, and she well deserved it.
When I try to get hold of Attard, she is immersed in yet another arty event – the Malta Comic Con at St James Cavalier.
Utterly blunt and honest, Attard explains that she entered the competition because she is currently tight for money. Attard is graduating in History of Art (Hons) from the University of Malta this year, and is building up a reputation in the local art scene where she is known as Iella.
Having thoroughly enjoyed being an entrant in the competition, she remarked how pleased shoppers were to see students at work on different paintings on the day. It was also obviously good exposure for all of them.
I ask what she thinks was the edge that together with her talent helped her win the competition.
“Something I may do differently in comparison to other art students is that I work most paintings into illustrations (much to the dismay of my mentor)and I try to keep my line work as clean and fluent as possible. “I am very influenced by animation, sequential art, and street art, and I like to include unusual or disturbing elements to my work when possible. I work best from my imagination and I enjoy creating creepy-cute creatures and characters. I’m immersed in what I do; I doodle all day/night and I’m currently involved in a couple of projects.
Attard is on a gap year (while doing the foundation course at Mcast to build up a portfolio) before she does her Masters in illustration next year.