APS Bank has launched a book and exhibition titled Diversity – Recognising Individuality. Project curator Kevin Casha shares some words about the concept in this excerpt from his introduction to the book.
The Diversity – Recognising Individuality project, the third in the APS bank series, consists of a photographic exhibition, a book and the bank’s 2018 calendar.
This multipronged approach is ideal and aims to reach the public through various media platforms, and thus strives to create awareness.
The publications remain in circulation and help further encourage continued debate and engagement with the topic.
The road towards creating such, at times, controversial projects is long, and it takes a concerted dedicated effort and preparation by everyone involved in order to come up with work which is artistic, aesthetic, professional, engaging and that also creates a healthy public debate.
A vital part of the exercise is the academic essay that has been expertly written by Anthony Catania on the subject.
Anthony’s inspirational writing outlines and explores the subject in a probing manner, perfectly complementing the visual and spiritual aspect of the project.
Keith Ellul – Steve BonelloOf course, choosing the project photographers is never easy. One must look into various aspects before reaching a decision.
The quality of the photographers’ work is paramount, but dedication, handling of deadlines, interpretation of subject, sensitivity and overall passion and willingness to work are all values which need to be considered.
The photographers chosen for this year’s oeuvre are all Maltese as, this time, the curator felt that he should concentrate on the domestic perspective of diversity.
Keith Ellul tackled the subject from the perspective of artists; how they work, what inspires, them, their different techniques and what they are trying to convey to their viewers.
Sita Azzopardi – Ethiopian cultureSita Azzopardi engaged herself with showing diversity through religious beliefs and spiritual practices. Sita’s sensitivy and amazing perseverance enabled her to finally come out with a deeply captivating body of work.
Duncan Cauchi’s work looked at what perhaps can be termed as the ‘dual personality’ of most people – how they react and work in their workplace, as opposed to how they are in real life, during their free time or while engaging in their other interests.
Ondre Camilleri-Gaglione studies the manner in which photographers look at a given subject. Photographers were given the task of depicting diversity with a monochrome image and, the resulting portrait of each one of them holding their work gives a fascinating insight into their characters and their way of looking at life.
Finally, Richard Farrugia looks at how a location, venue or event changes through the context of time and season. The way his final images were composed and blended together gives the viewer an instant glimpse of the diverse issues highlighting the Maltese islands through a particular emphasis on its changing ecology, and the way people and seasons affect its appearance.
Ondre Camilleri- Gaglione – Suman ConaDiversity – Recognising Individuality presents the public with the works of all five photographers and the publication of the book.
The curator’s hope is that visitors and readers will be stimulated to view diversity from a wider perspective and to be able to not only tolerate diversity, but to actually embrace it as one of the benefits of being part of a society.
Diversity-Recognising Individuality runs until May 31 between Mondays and Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 8.30am to noon at the APS Centre, Triq it-Torri, Birkirkara (Swatar). The book is also available at €35 from the premises, and all proceeds go to Id-Dar tal-Providenza.
https://www.apsbank.com.mt/
Richard Farrugia – Nature’s Relentless Pace