In conversation with Kamy Aquilina
ARTZ ID reached out to local artist and art educator Kamy Aquilina to have a chat about her artistic practice, her teaching role and her passion for the sea – a meaningful element that features prominently in her artistic work.
You are very active on the local scene, both as an artist who has been exhibited in several shows, as well as an art educator. Can you tell us more about how your artistic practice has evolved over the years as well as your role in art education?
My art works are based on different personal journeys using the visual narrative, multi-sensory art, space and colour. Being part of a few collaborative projects and exhibitions have helped me build confidence in different ways I can use the camera, drawing, painting, photography in general and ultimately play around with mixed media. It also allowed me to have a greater reach by participating in multiple events simultaneously through shared efforts. These past few years, I was also experimenting with multi sensorial art. I am always eager to learn new techniques and challenge myself to work outside of my comfort zone.
I am passionate about teaching art, sharing my knowledge and introducing students to art forms they might not be familiar with by incorporating a unique sense of innovation in my teaching style. I am always looking for methods to make lessons more interesting and interactive. I encourage students to not be afraid to experiment and use unconventional materials to create their compositions. I try to keep students engaged and help them build self-confidence in creating and understanding art with different methods, aiming to increase the students’ appreciation and understanding, and motivate them to learn more. I am also a member of the Malta School of Art Council and I have also been one of the school’s representatives for the project ‘Easy Towns2’ (European Accessible Sustainable Young Towns) in Vicenza.
We couldn’t help but notice that plenty of your recent work, particularly your black and white underwater photography and the cyanotype series, focus on the theme of the sea. Is this subject particularly meaningful or close to you?
Since the day I was born, I have lived by the sea and the seascapes hence why this subject has always been a meaningful inspiration to me. My favourite season is summer and I feel like I’m in a complete different world while swimming and snorkelling. There are so many interesting features that sometimes make me feel lost and I start taking photos and documenting everything that inspires me. These visuals are a collection of different favourite seascapes, taken over a period of different times and years using different techniques. For me, great black and white photography is about telling a story, highlighting a subject and expressing emotions. I use black and white photography when the colour in a photo serves only as a distraction from the message I want the image to convey.
On the other hand, Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print, which reminds me of the sea. I also used this technique in combination with drawings and printing. Memories are linked to blue through the sky, water, and the dreams we cannot quite remember. I consider blue as beneficial to the mind and body because it produces a calming effect, as calming as the sound of the sea. I have recently set a new Instagram page dedicated to photos of the Maltese bays and beaches called ‘Bajjiet Maltin’.
Are you currently working on any interesting initiatives or personal projects that you would like to share with ARTZ ID?
Yes, I am currently working on a personal project for a solo art exhibition that it is going to be held in 2021. The artworks are based on experimental works blending photography, sound installation and drawings which become the common denominator of my narrative.
Finally, what are your ambitions for the future and where would you like to see yourself further down the line?
In the future, I see myself looking for new collaboration with galleries, museums, other artists and taking part in local and international exhibitions that value the contemporary art. I would also like to continue exploring different techniques and media, to develop further my knowledge and personal growth in fine art.
Connect with Kamy and follow her work on ARTZ ID.
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