Who or what has been an inspiration to you, artistically?

I affirm that I feel inspired by the art of the foreign artists Burri, Roualt and De Stael. Moreover, though I consider myself a wholly different artist, I must admit that Mr Alden has not only influenced me with his art but instilled in me a great inspiration. This cannot be otherwise, when considering that he has been my master for 10 years. Besides, I also get enthused by the natural and architectural heritage in my immediate surroundings which move in me a need to communicate and express my inner self. Sometimes the inspiration comes from within because art is an expression of my inner side. Art becomes the way I look at the outside world.

Your artistic talent is visibly shared between all mediums, but what is your preferred form of art you create – painting, sculpture or photography?

I consider all these as utterly different art expressions. However, at times I believe that I associate myself more with sculpture and abstract art since I feel I can express myself better through them.

Your sculptures are predominantly pious in nature, but then you come across one with a doll’s head protruding out of one of them. Can you explain this sculpture and also your sculptural style?

I have to admit that my first contact with sculpture was in my early years when I created pasturi out of clay. Today when I sculpt I still feel drawn to pious themes, and in fact I had an exhibition of ceramics all centred around the sacred theme of the nativity. However, I try to give a contemporary touch to the subject not only through the forms used but also through the colours. Lately I have been experimenting with this medium and I have plans to move forward and exhibit sculptures related to totally different subjects. The doll was part of an installation which I made from worn, shattered and recycled material to bring out the idea that through its new solutions to generate reproduction, science has also been serving as a means to end life. I created a crooked tree trunk to illustrate the twisted path of life and attached pieces of babies (dolls) to it to represent the wasted lives after an in-vitro fertilisation experiment.

You have exhibited your work in numerous exhibitions over the past nine years, including prestigious permanent museums in Rome, Marseille and Pennsylvania, and participated in art projects in Bergamo, Berlin and Naples 2003-2004. What has struck you as the most exciting moment of your artistic career?

Last August I held an exhibition in Baveno, Milan, Italy. Baveno is in the border between Italy and Switzerland. While I was there, I was struck to see that people from all over Europe were fascinated and appreciated my work. I felt that, though still young and at the dawn of my artistic career, I gave to my canvases a feeling which draws the attention of many.

Do you remember how it felt to present your work for the first time?

I had just graduated from University. I must say that in order to set up my first solo exhibit, I required a lot of encouragement from those around me because, though I believed in my work, I still felt very inexperienced. Today, when I look back I think that maybe if it hadn’t been for that first exhibition, Gaulos, I would not have developed and grown artistically and would not have arrived where I am today.

What is your opinion of the artistic temperament in Malta directed by critics and also artists? Is there anything lacking in your opinion?

There are many instances when I believe that Malta lacks real and dedicated art critics. I must say that there are a few which are very good however, but they are not enough to cover all the artists which have been emerging on the Maltese art scene. Moreover, I believe that too many art events are organised which at times focus on the same subject and theme. I think that Malta needs the setting up of a Museum for Maltese Contemporary Art and institutions which educate and encourage events linked to contemporary art and culture.

What plans do you have for the near future?

Besides my exhibition which I am going to hold throughout March at B’Art, I am also currently working on another solo exhibition which I am holding later on this year in Gozo. Moreover, I am striving to make use of and enhance my contacts with foreign galleries.

You can contact Victor Agius by email [email protected] or tel. 7959-4508, and view more of his work at Gallery V, John Otto Bayer Street. Xaghra, Gozo. www.victoragius.com

Victor will be exhibiting a collection of abstract panels titled Inside Out at B’Art Art Gallery, 39 Amery Street, Sliema, until 31 March

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 4pm-7pm and Friday also from 9pm-11.30pm