Art can take numerous forms. Bones, however, might not be your first thought when it comes to fine art. Local artist and University of Malta alumnus, John Paul Azzopardi, uses some unique materials to create his works of art. Using rabbit and chicken bones, he has managed to create complex artworks. 

The process to create such sculptures can take months; however, it results in mesmerising works that instantly capture the imagination. One of Azzopardi’s earliest sculptures, Untitled 2009, is a gorgeous, unstrung violin made from an intricate mesh of bones, creating an eerie and fragile beauty. 

The bones act as a metaphor for ego-death, letting go of the viewer’s preconceived notions and allowing for an inner space that is not judgemental or critical. The artwork serves as a form of death, a letting go of one’s critical thinking.

While the concept of death can be petrifying, the silence around death acts as an appreciation of life. The sculptures act as a reminder of our own fragile mortality and provide us with perspective, encouraging us to question our actions and goals. The haunting beauty created by Azzopardi’s bone sculptures helps us understand how art can be found anywhere, even in death.  

The full version of the article can be read in THINK Issue 36 or accessed online. This edition focuses on Destruction and tackles topics ranging from death to war to environmental devastation.