VICTOR AGIUS’ PILGRIMAGE TO PURE ART!
Victor Agius was born in the Mediterranean island of Gozo, Malta. He had his first contact with art in his father’s sculpture studio. Victor works in both painting and sculpture. His art forms part of private collections worldwide. Music inspires Victor a lot. He is presently collaborating with a contemporary music composer to create an exhibition with an installation featuring music and visual arts – painting and sculpture which he is doing, complementing the primitive art involved. The project is inspired by the oldest free standing temples in the world – Ggantija, built in 3000 BC, in Gozo, Malta.
Victor, thank you for participating in this project. You have been most generous considering your many projects and the little spare time you have. So let us begin.
No. 1. What is art (painting) for and to you? (generally and personally)
Art is a way of seeing the world we live in. It’s a language used to communicate in reaction to the phenomena around us. Personally, I’m a pilgrim in search of “pure art” – an expression stripped off from unnecessary sophistications.
No. 2. What inspires you?
Our existence and the relation between man and earth, life in itself and the mystic elements of nature are the key players for my inspiration. My inspirations derive from what is primitive, spiritual and mystical.
No. 3. When you are painting, creating, where does it take you? Where does your mind travel?
I feel that painting /sculpting is not a form of travelling for me. Actually it’s the other way round, since the creation of a work of art is really the end of a voyage. My art works are my reaction towards things, places and events which I experience or reflect upon.
No. 4. Do you think visual arts, music and health are related and if so, how?
I see all these as one. A tree or a megalith from Stonehenge or Ggantija can transcend music in the ears of a composer or texture and form qualities in the hands of a sculptor which finally give a sense of enjoyment and relaxation to the creator and spectator.
No. 5. How do you feel when you are painting?
When I create a work of art I feel a sense of relief. It is like reaching a climax and like bursting out what has been culminating inside of me for a long time. A struggle of bringing forth what’s inside, regardless of the matter and media I’m working with.
No. 6) How do you feel when you are painting?
When I am working I feel tense and nervous, it is a battle against time to read what I am feeling inside and to express it in the most spontaneous and less controlled manner. Sometimes you feel happy afterwards and sometimes you feel you have to restart from scratch again
No. 7) Do you identify with your subject?
Yes, I see myself, my philosophies, thoughts, my fears, my beliefs in all my work.
No. 8) Does painting help you connect with your higher self, whatever that is for you?
I work in many mixed media involving sculpture, painting and even new media. Yes, my art helps me understand better who I am also as a person.
No. 9) How do you feel about creativity in the school systems, I’m not referring to art schools, I’m referring to general school systems and developing creativity in students?
I feel that the traditional academic subjects are taking a lot of time and
importance and curricula just mention the art and creativity to show it on paper , but when you enter the schools the art subject is often given the side in terms of time in the timetable and lack of art rooms and resources. Some heads of schools know nothing about art and treat the art teacher as someone who is there to just fill the time table instead of offering the possibility so that he shows what he knows in terms of creating a positive environment for his students to feel and act creatively in quality art projects!
No. 10) What would be a simple solution to improve the development of creativity in the school systems?
More awareness of the benefits of arts and creativity which can help the student also correlate his/her knowledge with other subjects such as sciences, history, identity and culture, religion, social sciences and these will finally help the child in life-long term education not to become necessarily an artist but become a well informed and educated citizen who understands the role of art in the world.
These values have to be stressed to the policy makers in education, as the art teachers unfortunately depend on the systems and bureaucracy of the schools.
Again, Victor, thank you so much for participating in this project. I wish you great success in your upcoming project and in all your future endeavours. Until our paths cross again, be blessed!
TO THE READER :
You are invited to visit the link below to see more of Victor’s wonderful art. Your comments are sincerely appreciated, enjoy!
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Comments
Victor Agius is a truly dedicated artist I love and respect his honesty and integrity he is also a great friend and I an happy I have two of his best works in my collection.
Gabriel A Pellegrini
.-= Gabriel A Pellegrini´s last blog ..CONTEMPORARY MALTESE ARTISTS AND GUESTS =-.
Where do I start….loved your answer to #3
… totally different expression than I have read before, revealing your journey through the art rather than the art being the journey. Your sculpture La Materia VII is so beautiful. It reminds me of the Carina nebula. Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed it much.
.-= Cecelia Gay´s last blog ..Forever Mine =-.
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