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G.F. Abela Junior College - Ruslana Grima - The Waves of Change
G.F. Abela Junior College - Ruslana Grima - The Waves of Change

Malta & Gozo Students Prize

Established in 2017, The Malta & Gozo Students Prize is open to all enrolled secondary school students in Malta & Gozo.

 

Entry from 11 December 2023 – 19 January 2024.

 

How To Participate

01

Nomination

Entry closed.

Participating students must be nominated by their teacher. Teachers can nominate up to 10 students to enter. Upon entry, students will be asked to enter the name of their nominating teacher.

Click here for T&Cs.

 

02

Artwork Submission

Nominated students can submit up to three artworks online before the submission deadline. Please follow the entry instructions in the T&Cs.

Our panel of judges will then select 20 student artists for the shortlist.

03

The Prizes

The Judges Prize of €500 is awarded to the student artist with the highest score from the judges. €1,500 is awarded to the school of the Judges Prize winner.

The Public Vote Prize of €300 is awarded to the student artist with the most votes from the public. €800 is awarded to the school of the Public Vote Prize Winner.

Shortlist

Anastasia Forbes
Dance of madness  image
BID AND VOTE
Dance of madness
Leanne Buhagiar
Dreaming About Outer Space  image
BID AND VOTE
Dreaming About Outer Space
Lynn Gauci
Eternal Love image
VOTE NOW
Eternal Love
Michaela Mizzi
Human Connection image
VOTE NOW
Human Connection
Matthew Sammut
Last Tree Standing  image
BID AND VOTE
Last Tree Standing
Liam Fenech
Living in Harmony image
BID AND VOTE
Living in Harmony
Elisa Cassar
Love That Remains image
VOTE NOW
Love That Remains
Elisa Busuttil
Masked behind image
BID AND VOTE
Masked behind
Elania Tonna
One with Nature image
VOTE NOW
One with Nature
Lauren Agius
Rupture image
BID AND VOTE
Rupture
Suchanan Arsana
Society  image
BID AND VOTE
Society
Sofia Rubasheva
Solitude image
VOTE NOW
Solitude
Francesca Grech
The Gaze image
VOTE NOW
The Gaze
Jessica Micallef
The Overwhelming of Construction  image
BID AND VOTE
The Overwhelming of Construction
Katrina Balzan
The Smirk image
BID AND VOTE
The Smirk
Tongxin Yang
The Stroll image
VOTE NOW
The Stroll
Yuwen Zeng
The Tempest image
BID AND VOTE
The Tempest
Jade Ebejer
Time in Stone image
BID AND VOTE
Time in Stone
Isaac Abdilla
We see you image
BID AND VOTE
We see you
Theadora Galea
The Hooded One image
VOTE NOW
The Hooded One
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01 / 20

Anastasia Forbes

Dance of madness  image

Anastasia Forbes

Dance of madness
School: G.F.Abela Junior College
Dimension: 42 x 29.7cm
Medium: Gaphite pencils on paper
Age: 15

This piece reflects how a mind yerns to express itself when words yield.

02 / 20

Leanne Buhagiar

Dreaming About Outer Space  image

Leanne Buhagiar

Dreaming About Outer Space
School: St Nicholas College, Ħad-Dingli Secondary School
Dimension: 42 x 29.7cm
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Age: 15

Imagine waking up from a dream about living in outer space and want to go back to that dream! Can I possibly live the dream again? Can I live there and experience it in real life? I’ve always been fascinated by outer space and science as it is surrounded by colorful planets, glittering and glistering stars, all set against the dark colored sky. Space is unique and endless because it is something that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

03 / 20

Lynn Gauci

Eternal Love image

Lynn Gauci

Eternal Love
School: St. Benedict College Secondary school Kirkop
Dimension: 30 x 42cm
Medium: Acrylic on A3 paper with some aquarelle pencils
Age: 13

Eternal love – Idea started from a mind map about particular experience and evolved into a Surreal world, fascinated by the historical tragedy happened in the Italian city of Pompeii in A.D. 79. Inspired by the surreal works of Giorgio de Chirico and the architectural remains of the city of Pompeii. Past and present are visualised in the dramatic ruins of Pompeii and in the central vision of Pompeii in the past and the Vesuvian volcano, the cause of the disaster, at the background. The two lovers, frozen at the moment the city was buried under the ashes, their bodies and love are caressed by light and preserved for eternity. One can observe different aspects of the artistic process in the Artwork; detailed research and observations of the city of Pompeii, lots and lots of experimentation with different textures, direct work from observation using primary and secondary sources, such as mannequins, photos and others.

04 / 20

Michaela Mizzi

Human Connection image

Michaela Mizzi

Human Connection
School: The Malta Visual and Performing Arts School, Hamrun
Dimension: 40 x 50.5 x 1.5cm
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Age: 15

The colour and composition reflect the figures contrasting emotions. Warm colours in the centre of the piece reflect the love they feel for each other, however, because the hands are pulling the couple apart there is tension which I interpreted in broken brushstrokes and desaturated colours.

05 / 20

Matthew Sammut

Last Tree Standing  image

Matthew Sammut

Last Tree Standing
School: De La Salle College
Dimension: 42 x 59cm
Medium: Mixed media including acrylic paint, pendrawing, collage with bubble wrap, newspaper, and gold paper.
Age: 13

Malta has changed drastically since I was a toddler. Previously it was a pleasure to view the old capital city of Malta, Mdina. But NOW no longer. The countryside has vanished and has been invaded by high buildings and cranes (which mean more buildings). Trees are a rare find and are as precious as GOLD. Mixed media was used.

06 / 20

Liam Fenech

Living in Harmony image

Liam Fenech

Living in Harmony
School: De La Salle College
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Age: 12

A portrait inspired by the urge to seek peace in the world. Two different fish depicting human race living in harmony and peace

07 / 20

Elisa Cassar

Love That Remains image

Elisa Cassar

Love That Remains
School: G.F Abela – Junior College
Dimension: 59 x 42cm
Medium: Oil paint
Age: 16

My artwork is portraying an elderly man with his head slightly turned towards the left side with an ambivalent expression on his face. I used a soft and warm colour scheme to create a sense of nostalgia and tranquility. The feeling of saudade is making the man yearn to go back to his beloved yet absent days. The soft expression on his face shows that even though he is melancholic, the memories will forever last and he’ll always remember the days happily as he is grateful to have lived them.

08 / 20

Elisa Busuttil

Masked behind image

Elisa Busuttil

Masked behind
School: St. Benedict College Secondary school Kirkop
Dimension: 35 x 25 x 7cm
Medium: Sculpture, air dry clay and mixed media
Age: 14

A sculpture of a mask representing an illusion of identity and multiple personalities found in each individual. Inspired by Venetian masks, a sculpture made out of air dry clay and other media. The sculpture’s outer layer is colourful, balanced and graceful representing the outer image, the image someone wants the others to see and know about. On the other hand only for the good observers and few close ones, can see the feather ends, brush strokes and finger marks underneath which represent reality and experiences which build our real personality and identity. The colour palette was chosen to represent the Maltese identity.

09 / 20

Elania Tonna

One with Nature image

Elania Tonna

One with Nature
School: Malta Visual and Performing Arts School
Dimension: 71 x 50.5cm
Medium: Acrylics on stretched canvas
Age: 12

This is a painting of my right hand with branches growing our of my finger tips. A number of colourful butterflies fly around the hand. The meaning behind the painting is that all living creatures depend on one another and ultimately affect each other. We are all connected and we are all in the same boat. Humans depend on trees for their oxygen and yet they still cut them. Deforestation has an adverse effect not only on the humanity, but also on all the other creatures that share the same planet.

10 / 20

Lauren Agius

Rupture image

Lauren Agius

Rupture
School: San Andrea School
Dimension: 40 x 24 x 16cm
Medium: Sculpture
Age: 15

We all experience at a certain point that life is not a fairytale. This point of realisation can be difficult to accept but it leads us to maturity, to be more careful and evaluate better our decisions.

11 / 20

Suchanan Arsana

Society  image

Suchanan Arsana

Society
School: STMC Middle and Secondary School, Zejtun
Dimension: 29.7 x 42cm
Medium: mixed-media
Age: 16

This artwork was done by using mixed media; oil pastels, markers, and unused papers. When skaters do tricks on concrete surfaces, they’re not just leaving marks, they’re adding to the unique and always-changing culture of skateboarding. I created this artwork because I want to show the advantages of skateboarding and how it affects our society. The jeans hanging shows that skateboarding has a significant cultural impact, influencing fashion same as music and art. Moreover, when it comes to ‘Society’ Skate parks and skateboarding events create spaces for social interaction and community building which means they offer a sense of belonging, allowing people to form friendships and support, especially among younger generations. In conclusion, I want to prove that skateboarding plays a multifaceted role in society. It contributes to physical well-being, community development, and the celebration of diversity and individual expression.

12 / 20

Sofia Rubasheva

Solitude image

Sofia Rubasheva

Solitude
School: G.F Abela – Junior College
Dimension: 58 x 42cm
Medium: Watercolour
Age: 17

This artwork is an allegory of oldness and death. The lonely tower that has been through its highs and lows is now standing in the winter landscape almost completely destroyed, but it still holds on. A person stands next it, his existence is dwarfed and seems insignificant in comparison to the powerful building. Despite the tower’s height and majesty, it is still fragile at the base that it seems that it is almost about to collapse. The artwork is mostly composed with pastel and slightly desaturated colours to give it a dreamy effect.

13 / 20

Francesca Grech

The Gaze image

Francesca Grech

The Gaze
School: Malta Visual and Performing Arts School
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: Acrylic on Paper
Age: 14

The student worked on a portrait of a woman and chose to work with a warm vs cool colour palette. She wanted to bring out contrasts, both in the portrait characteristics and mood, as well as foreground vs background…

14 / 20

Jessica Micallef

The Overwhelming of Construction  image

Jessica Micallef

The Overwhelming of Construction
School: G.F Abela – Junior College
Dimension: 42 x 59.4cm
Medium: Digital
Age: 17

This digital piece is inspired from construction works of buildings in Malta. It represents the increase in construction of buildings and the wide spectrum of buildings we have in each locality. It also shows through the comparison of sizes an overwhelming effect hits people living in these areas as they look outside. Them feeling overpowed by the huge buildings surrounding them.

15 / 20

Katrina Balzan

The Smirk image

Katrina Balzan

The Smirk
School: St. Micheal’s Foundation
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: pencil colors
Age: 15

The pencil color portrait vividly captures Mr. Bean’s comedic essence, showcasing his ability to bring joy by simply contorting his face into a mischievous smirk, turning any somber moment into laughter.

16 / 20

Tongxin Yang

The Stroll image

Tongxin Yang

The Stroll
School: St Martin’s College 6th Form
Dimension: 42 x 59.4cm
Medium: Acrylic paint
Age: 17

In the painting, there is a man wearing a long, brown coat and a hat, walking on a pavement in front of a brick building. his hands are in his pockets. The work reflects a simple daily walk enjoying the neighbourhood. Walking in a city is a symphony of urban delights. The sound of footsteps blends with cars hooting, people talking and children shouting creating a unique melody. Each step tells a unique story of urban exploration.

17 / 20

Yuwen Zeng

The Tempest image

Yuwen Zeng

The Tempest
School: St Martin’s College 6th Form
Dimension: 61 x 47cm
Medium: Digital Art
Age: 16

Life is like the sea; everyone is like a ship navigating the vast expanse of experiences. At times, it floats peacefully on calm waters, a serene journey where tranquillity prevails. Yet sometimes strong winds and turbulent waves emerge, symbolizing challenges and upheavals that test resilience. Each rise and fall in the waves tell a story, shaping the voyage of existence. The sun behind clouds reflects moments of obscured clarity, where shadows of uncertainty dance. However, there is always a ray of light, triggering the courage to face the wind and ride the waves, even if the pain can be firm to reach to the end. Despite the tempests, the boat sails forward, embodying perseverance and growth. Ultimately, like a boat finding its course, life unveils its beauty amid both serenity and storms, a constant ebb, and flow.

18 / 20

Jade Ebejer

Time in Stone image

Jade Ebejer

Time in Stone
School: The Malta Visual and Performing Arts School, Hamrun
Dimension: 30 x 40.5 cm
Medium: Oil on canvas
Age: 15

This painting represents creativity and artistic creation. The artist captures life in inanimate objects just like the sculptor of this painting immortalized this human being in stone. In stone this person will not age and therefore time is set to a still. I used oils because it is easy to blend and to create the smoothness of the statue’s surface.

19 / 20

Isaac Abdilla

We see you image

Isaac Abdilla

We see you
School: Stella Maris College, Gzira
Dimension: 42 x 30cm
Medium: Digital Art (3D)
Age: 15

This piece was inspired by my grandfather’s artwork and my love for horror. I took inspiration from both.

20 / 20

Theadora Galea

The Hooded One image

Theadora Galea

The Hooded One
School: G.F Abela – Junior College
Dimension: 42 x 59.4cm
Medium: Mixed media work done with watercolours and oil pastels on A2 paper then scanned.
Age: 16

This mixed media work done with watercolours and oil pastels depicts an elderly man in a state of manic laughter. I wanted to capture his weathered, wrinkled face contorted with raw emotion. I layered the watercolours to create multiple versions of his face reflecting the complexity of his character.

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Thanks for voting!

Livia Arrigo, St. Martin's College - Transition (1) Key Dates mobile image

Key Dates

Submission Period

11 December 2023 — 19 January 2024

Shortlist Announcement

— February 2024

Finalists Exhibition

— March 2024

Awards Ceremony

— 18 April 2024

Judges

Caroline Miggiani image
Caroline Miggiani
Art Historian
Caroline Miggiani image

Caroline Miggiani

Art Historian

Caroline Miggiani graduated from the University of Malta in 2012 with a degree in History of Art. Later on, in 2017, she was awarded a Master’s degree in the same discipline.
Her main research interests include art produced during the First and Second World Wars and 20th century British artists who have a connection with Malta.

Miggiani has recently published a book entitled The Official Colours of War and has also written articles for local publications including Treasures of Malta, Melita Historica and the Times of Malta.

She has recently curated a couple of local art exhibitions.

Christine Porter Lofaro image
Christine Porter Lofaro
Artist
Christine Porter Lofaro image

Christine Porter Lofaro

Artist

Christine Porter Lofaro commenced her artistic formation at a young age. She attended Art classes at the Malta Government School of Art and also at the Society of Arts Manufactures and Commerce in Valletta. She continued to develop different styles and techniques under the private tuition of Mr. Harry Alden, who was one of Bridget Riley’s students. Christine’s highly realistic oil paintings are like snapshots taken from an imaginative world that is narrated through props, things, and figures. Her work takes traditional ways of painting and applies them to current times, through a fresh and contemporary lens.

Along with 18 years of teaching experience, Christine holds an honours degree in Art and a Master’s degree in Creativity and Innovation from the University of Malta. In 2016, she obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield (UK) with research on studio spaces and the creative process. Christine is a full-time artist and a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. In 2019, Christine has been added as a member of the International Guild of Realism. Founded in 2002, the guild recognizes talented contemporary realists, while also building bridges between collectors and artists working in this field. 

Debbie Caruana Dingli image
Debbie Caruana Dingli
Artist
Debbie Caruana Dingli image

Debbie Caruana Dingli

Artist

Debbie Caruana Dingli was born on 3 March 1962 to Mario and Bertha née Curmi. Born into an artistic family, she represents the fourth generation of artists in her family, with her grandfather Robert Caruana Dingli and great-uncle Edward Caruana Dingli being amongst the most notable 20th Century Maltese artists. She started formal art tuition at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in St Julians under Margaret Chircop. She later graduated from the Malta government school of art where she was under the tutelage of Harry Alden. She was later awarded a diploma in Cartooning by the International Correspondence School in the UK. She hails from Sliema but resides in Siggiewi.

Debbie Caruana Dingli has been a recognised presence on the local art scene for the past thirty-five years and her accomplishments in portraiture and cartoon painting have played a significant role in establishing her solid reputation. Her interest in observing people from all social strata, both collectively as well as individually, has continually provided her with a rich and varied stock of imagery. There is no doubt that her artistic compass is oriented towards sketching and drawing people. Whilst her portraiture has until now been executed in a realistic vein,’ her cartoon paintings draw freely on both her imagination and on her personal memories. Caruana Dinglis realistic style as well as her imagined scenarios originate from the same well of ideas and are inspired by people from all walks of life. Her personal observations go beyond mere people watching’ and affirm an enduring interest in the human condition. They also indicate an awareness of topical social issues as well as a genuine concern for nature and the environment on our island

Frank Yu image
Frank Yu
Business Leader
Frank Yu image

Frank Yu

Business Leader

Frank is an accomplished global financier, entrepreneur, investor and business leader having started and managed businesses/made investments successfully in Hong Kong-China, the U.S. and Europe where his firm has funded and supported many life-saving/life-improving medical innovations that have significantly benefited many people.

Frank was educated in China, Hong Kong and then the U.S., having worked for several of the world’s top financial institutions and having lived in New York, China, Hong Kong, and Europe. As a keen art lover and collector Frank is presently a member of the board of trustees of The Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Howard Bilton image
Howard Bilton
Founder and Chairman  
Howard Bilton image

Howard Bilton

Founder and Chairman  

Howard Bilton is Chairman and founder of The Sovereign Group. Howard holds a joint honours BA degree in classics and law from the University of Keele and is qualified as a Barrister and called to the Bars of England/Wales and Gibraltar.  

He is a visiting non-resident professor at Texas A and M University where he assists with their LLM and Masters degrees in International Tax and Offshore Centres.  

In 2003 he formed The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) which runs a range of art prizes designed to increase the exposure of artists in the region, while raising money to help disadvantaged children.  

SAF has raised over US$11 million which has been used to help thousands of disadvantaged children using expressive arts as a means of education and rehabilitation.  

Howard has a personal art collection comprising around 420 pieces made by a wide range of artists from students to internationally famous artists.   

He has acted as a judge on various Sovereign sponsored art prizes in Hong Kong, Bahrain, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, London, Malta, Mauritius, Portugal and Singapore.  He has also acted as a nominator for the Sovereign professional prizes in Africa and Portugal. 

Howard is the Founder and Chairman of Howard’s Folly Wines, Portugal. All wines use art on the labels and often feature work by finalists of the various Sovereign art prizes or children taught by SAF. A proportion of the revenue from wine sales goes to support SAF. 

 

Laura Swale image
Laura Swale
Artist
Laura Swale image

Laura Swale

Artist

Laura is an artist and former secondary school art teacher and head of department of fifteen years. Now an entrepreneur, she is currently developing new businesses in the Arts in Malta. These are Allura: Malta Open Art Studios, designated to be Malta’s pilot social enterprise, and the MACC: the Malta Arts and Culture Club, a creative hub for those who love all things cultural and Arts-related. Her background is in the visual arts, namely fine art, illustration, textiles, printmaking, digital art and graphic design. She is also working towards a Post-graduate Diploma in Interior Design.

Her creative ventures draw upon her wide and varied artistic background and range of creative skills tin order to drive innovation and change in an industry she is passionate about. She has also previously worked in galleries and exhibitions, office management, publishing and retail, and has a background in events and project management. Her people-facing teaching career has given her a vast amount of presentation experience, upon which she now draws for the networking, public relations and marketing aspects of her new enterprises. These are driven by a passion for the Arts and for Malta itself, which she has come to love since relocating in April 2016. These projects are motivated by a desire to support, promote and celebrate the Arts and to drive constructive change in the creative sectors, so that the Maltese Arts and cultural sectors might evolve alongside social, economic and environmental change. Laura is also a French speaker. Her creative portfolio can be viewed at www.lauraswale.com 

Stephen Griffiths image
Stephen Griffiths
Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited
Stephen Griffiths image

Stephen Griffiths

Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited

Stephen Griffiths is Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited and a director of Sovereign Pension Services Limited. Stephen has worked in the financial service industry for many years both in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and in Malta where he has lived with his family for more than 12 years. Prior to leaving the UK Stephen worked as a management consultant for one of the UK’s largest service providers and before that as a marketing and advertising consultant in print media and television. “As early as I can remember art has always played an important role in my life. My grandfather was a very talented artist and passed on a love of art to me. I am therefore honoured to be part of something that helps encourage that same love of art in others.” – Stephen Griffiths. 

Sponsors and Supporters

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Prize Winners and Previous Finalists