Malta and Gozo Students Prize 2023

This work deals with the difference that is now evident in relation to generation Z’s spirituality when compared to the older generation. It is known that younger adults and upcoming teens today are far less likely than older generations to identify with a religion and believe in God. The old woman peacefully staring into a sea of emptiness symbolizes how the older generation fully immersed themselves in religion and believed that the only way to internal and external success was the church. The woman is also painted looking upwards, towards the sky, something bigger, of greater power. The intent of this painting is to pose one question: to what extent should a person abide by religion and faith?

The painting expresses the overwhelming experience resulting from anxiety and stress.

This symbolic artwork is called “Drowning in Music” because it is about a person who suffers with panic disorder. The gramophone which emits the “Music” represents the intensity of the panic attack. This large and constant amount of panic tends to make a person “Drown”.

This surreal artwork invites the viewer to observe the process of creation and destruction. Here are depicted three beings engaging in a process to create a world, while beneath them lingers a dark void. From the cosmic middle figure, the two mystical figures at the side are condensing and materialising their surrounding etheric matter by their creative impulse. The trinitarian concept is a common theme in different belief systems. The tetractys above them represents the underlying geometry imbued in the fabric of creation, and the pillars symbolise stability and balance are a symbol of stability and balance. The table represents the natural world – flora and fauna coupled with human invention, technology and innovation – the hot air balloon. The fire above the cosmic figure is the source of light and heat to vitalise humankind and nature. Left is the figure of care, right is the figure wielding the sceptre of high authority.

The facade of St.Paul Cathedral in London in Pen and ink on a 300gsm A3 paper

This artwork shows a monarch from the past, showing her status in society wearing a wealthy robe with a rich surrounding, a golden background inspired from the Gothic art period and Gustav Klimt’s golden phase, a rich red curtain and patterned floor.

A portrait of an old Indian man. The artwork includes soft pastels and HB pencils.

This portrait is an interpretation of a beautiful reference photo, that when I came across of, immediately knew that I had to paint it. I used several hues of blue in contrast with vibrant warm colours, to give her a somewhat cold look, which in my opinion further emphasises her expression, featuring a calm yet pondering face.

This a character that I came up with some time ago. That went through several drafts before decided upon this design. Ryu is a gifted horror writer with a troubled past and recognisable hair. Ryu is in a life or death situation with other people that he must work with to survive.

This artwork did not have a particular meaning behind it, but I used it to capture a moment in time that I never wanted to forget. After a year full of stress, I managed to get a breath of fresh air by travelling to one of my favourite places. As much as I appreciated the pictures I had taken they did not quite catch the atmosphere and my emotions of freedom and tranquility. I tried capturing the water with different colours, while adding a lot of detail to the buildings present. Everytime I look at this painting I can loose myself again in the beauty of this city. Through this artwork I wanted to show the world through my new eyes, a girl who enjoyed living once again.

Two female faces represent opposing aspects of mental health: depression as opposed to joy. Through this piece I wish to draw attention to the stress experienced by adoloscents in an eduaction system that is focused on examinations and promotes isolation and loneliness. The dark colours embody the sense of sadness and solitude, further emphasized by the solitary figure mentally drained with her head buried in her hands. A scream of despair rises from the dark-haired girl whose crown of thorns depicts her pain and symbolizes a damaged environment such that she is unable to find solace in nature.

In contrast, on the right hand side the girl looks to the light and finds consolation and happiness in nature and companionship in others. In this part of the painting the light and the flowers give a sense of hope and freedom surrounded by a bright palette depicting joy. I wish to draw attention to the importance of caring for the environment since nature can help us heal from stress and give us solace from pain.

The painting explores the negative effects of domestic abuse.

This artwork is inspired by the current local social issue of murder. It shows 3 figures of the same person, with each highlighting different stages of dying and with each showing different emotions such as pain and fear.

All 3 faces are being drawn into the open mouth of an enlarged skull (which symbolises death) to further enhance the idea of murder. Also coming out of the skull’s mouth is a pale, dead, almost-skeletal hand dripping blood to again further enhance this idea of death. The artwork is composed with dark, complex colours and rough brushstrokes to mirror the darkness and roughness of this crime.

This painting conveys the depiction of what I think anxiety would look like and the battle that one may go through when struggling with anxiety. A reflection of the inner mind. One goes through a lot with anxiety with all the voices that bring you down and in this artwork I tried to portray a few of the thoughts a person may have and tried to use harsh painting strokes with a strong but dark colour to show the darkness of the mind and emotions.

The hands pulling back the face depict how the mind is struggling as the mind pulls the person suffering back into a dark place and how suffering from any mental health is tiring and not an easy job to live with as it’s a constant battle to deal with yourself. The painting was influenced by myself and what my mind tends to go through on a daily basis

A triangular corridor of glass, with each of its two slanted sides of glass revealing a landscape littered with historical events and figures. On the floor, a map of the world is seen. At the end of the corridor stands a present-day family, just about to step into the light of the future. Their shadows are cast onto the map of the world behind them. This piece represents the journey of humanity, up until now, the present, the moment when the past can be used to build the future. The piece depicts the past, represents the present, and leads on to the future, a future so bright that it shall cast our shadow over the world, over our past. The triangular shape of the corridor’s cross-section further emphasizes the superiority of the future, the apex above the foundation, the future above the past. The haphazard representation of the historical events, locations, and figures, as depicted, shows the fluidity of history and its unclear nature as it is nothing but a memory; it lives as long as mankind moves past it, into the future.

A serene setting with a large mossy tree surrounded by nature and other types of grass and land, and sunlight hitting the face of the large tree making the tree look bright and full of life. An expressive technique was used with the oil pastels to create the leaves, vines and land.

Humans are the creators and the destroyers. The true meaning behind the title ‘Minus Humans’ is that humans are slowly destroying the nature and that also causes the living of animals, the skulls in a big jar represent humans that got taken over by animals who tried to get a revenge. To believe for animals and nature, they will be better off without humans.

This scene of three grotesque human-like pigs symbolises the greed that goes hand in hand with corruption. I wanted to portray the pigs grasping obsession and desperation for money and power by representing it in their facial expressions.

I’m sure we all have different feelings about the difficult years we’ve spent together. It reminds me of a sick patient stuck in a ward. Human beings are creatures yearning for freedom, and when we are trapped in a small space for too long, maybe we are lost, maybe we are wondering about the outside world? We try to break free, but we don’t want to change after we get used to it. I hope each one of us will be better and better in the future.

A monstrous church with eyes and hands as if it was alive looms overhead as the pilgrimage of mice head up the stairs to the main entrance without any knowledge of what awaits inside. The Church represents religion as a whole, through a very cartoonish style, that shows a warped interpretation of a gothic style church.