A thematic analysis of Maltese contemporary art, 1970-1990

Abstract

This dissertation is a partly-historical, partly-appreciative study of the dominant trends in painting and sculpture produced in Malta during the last twenty years although reference was made to earlier works whenever the need arose. The material used to document my studies includes a collection of articles taken from the local press, exhibition catalogues, books dealing with contemporary art in Malta, and the revealing interviews I have had with seventeen Maltese artists. The study is divided into four main chapters on a thematic basis: The Human Condition, Religious Art, the Local Environment and Beyond Appearances (Non-Figurative Art). I tried to combine similar stylistic or thematic traits pertaining to different artists, although this does not necessarily imply any direct connection between them. In my epilogue I attempted to explain the divergence in style of the individual Maltese artists. The short list of biographies deals with the more factual details of the lives of the artists dealt with in this work.