Creative people and creative spaces go together and this is pretty much the gist of a newly set up art studio cum concept store discovered in Valletta. With the unlikely name of NO.ME, this space is based on the up and coming continental concept of up-cycling creatively and intentionally. The three artists running the show meet me a few days prior to the official inauguration of the studio.
Matthew Attard, Deborah Rossetto and Michele Cadelano met in Venice when they worked together in a prolific art gallery located there. Matthew explains, "I am a History of Art graduate and an artist, and I have been living in Venice for quite a few years now. Working together with Deborah and Michele both of whom are Venetians, brought forth the idea of creating something innovative together. We opted to come to Malta and set up our studio and concept store here, giving me an opportunity to touch base once more and renew my relationship with Malta."
The collective of upcycled design and art items on display at the studio allows an interchangeable flow of ideas that blend fashion, interior design, and decor together so as to present a homogeneous melange of items. These range from fashion wear to jewellery and accessories, decor items, gifts and handmade goods. All are creatively inspired by the Maltese traditional scenario yet imbued with a feel of Italian style and fashion sense.
All three artists have a happy creative baggage to boast of. Matthew is artistically active and has works exhibited in Los Angeles. He is currently represented in Brussels by the contemporary art gallery Canal|05, and proceeding with some new art works. Michele is a Fashion Design graduate and presently a finalist in an important fashion designers' competition in Milan called TX3. TX3 is currently producing a collection of his fashion wear, which will then compete with the other finalists. Deborah is an Art & Theatre graduate who is proceeding with her photography and theatre research whilst in Malta.
As the busy mascot puppy Safi echoes the studio's monochrome door with his black and white coat of speckled fur, I observe the lovely display of unique looking gadgets and furnishings, inspiring clothing for people who want to stand out in a crowd and lovingly revamped furniture that has been given a new reason to be. The team has already been actively yet gingerly proposing the studio over the past weeks, but will be publicly inaugurating on June 12, in collaboration with Ġugar Hangout Bar next door. Deborah and Michele confirm that before coming to Malta this year, they were under the impression that the Maltese were well into innovative design ideas but now, from this studio, they can gauge that the local public tends to be rather more conservative and traditional in taste, although curious to see how these upcycling projects can develop. However, the threesome hope their collaboration will be fruitful, and from the feedback and interest shown so far, especially from foreign visitors who are more familiar with the upcycling concept, they seem to be right on track. The trick now is to woo a wider audience from this upcycled niche space in lower Valletta, definitely a part of the city which is attracting diversity and innovative ideas at every corner.
NO.ME upcycled design & art studio will be officially inaugurated on the evening of Friday 12 June, 8pm onwards. Find NO.ME at 91B Republic Street, Valletta
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