Saturday, October 3, 2015

Changing Face of Malta

In 1876, Edward Caruana Dingli was born into a family of artists in Valetta, Malta. He studied at the British Academy in Rome and returned to Malta to paint the folk life of his native land. 

Wayside Orange Seller by Edw. Caruana Dingli

One of his paintings that found its way to innumerable postcards and prints shows a happy Maltese girl resting beside the road with a basket of oranges.

Debbie Caruana Dingli

Debbie Caruana Dingli has carried on the family tradition of painting local human stories, but the stories have changed.


As far back as 2008, she decided to include portrayals of migrants and refugees in her gallery exhibitions. "I was keen on the subject from a human perspective. Immigration is a subject where I feel many have lost their sense of humanity due to the antagonism they feel towards this pressing issue...."



She continues, "The other day, my son Bruce mentioned that we spend all our life hearing about how we're supposed to love our neighbour and give them the cloak off our back, and now we're finally being put to the test," she said.

1 comment:

Rich said...

The Migrant theme:

Another universal aspect here, rendered by someone painting AND drawing; mastering both.

ONE WORLD


Despite anything.