by PAUL VELLA CRITIEN
Introduced by Dr FX Zahra
at
on Saturday 1st March 2014 at 19.30hrs.
Public viewing 2nd March-21st March 2014 – Monday-Friday 10-19hrs.
The Exhibition “Sogno D’Oro” will be inaugurated by Mr. Mark Vella at Cavalieri Hotel St. Julians on Friday 18th May 2012 at 19.30hrs. It is open to the public between the 19th of May till 5th July.
Photo gallery of the ceramic sculpture exhibition “Sensazioni dell’anima” which was held in November 2010 in Palazzo Castellania, Merchants Street 15, Valletta.
Sensazioni dell’Anima: an exhibition of ceramic sculpture by Paul Vella Critien, introduced by art critic Mr. E.V. Borg.
Palazzo Castellania, Merchants Street 15, Valletta
1st – 26th November 2010 – Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17.00
The exhibition will be inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Chris Said at Palazzo Castellania, Merchants Street 15, Valletta on Friday 29th October 2010 at 19.30.
An explosive force, a dynamic energy, a burst of vivid extravagant colours, powerful and suggestive shapes and forms with a defi ned outline in evocative space are the basis of Paul Vella Critien’s expression.
Paul’s work emanates joy and pleasure. He loves life and his explicit hedonism emphasizes his vision of a world of overwhelming beauty. Although there is a hint of tension in his work his dynamics are well balanced and the explosive force is contained in unity. He sublimates conflict and suffering in his concept of fertile and germinating life though the struggle surfaces in his agonal colours, in his balanced dynamics of force and counter-force as in his ‘Sensazione Astratta’ series.
His recent ceramic sculpture of ‘Bimbo’ and ‘Bimba’ reveal this explicit hedonism: the great pleasure and joy the artist perceives in a child – its innocence, joy, pleasure, sense of adventure and blind faith in his parents.
The romantic flair in Paul comes to the fore in such expression full of sentiment and emotion. The pose of these fi gures is so extravagant, theatrical and baroque that exposes the passionate nature, warmth and forceful nature of this sensitive and sensible artist.
In ‘Futura’ Paul projects his love of woman, the basis of his inspired vision. It is his ideal of maternal instincts projected into a gilded future. He models the shape of her womb with great tenderness, delicacy, sensitivity and love. He regards such elliptical form and space as a sacred shrine, a tabernacle of love, a depositary for the male, vital seed that with time care and patience yields new life. How extraordinary this miracle is with attendant mystery and magic! It is as great as the analogous oyster and pearl. To protect and prevent its flesh from inflammation from an intrusive grain of sand the oyster secrets a kind of mucus. With time it transforms the grain of sand and the irritating pain into a wonderful magnifi cent pearl as woman transforms the seed into a splitimage.
Paul does not only praise woman’s maternal fecundity as he concurrently sings and evokes her mysterious, magical powers: erotic, lustful and seductive. Her potential to seduce, to charm and cast a spell is fabulous and legendary (rf. to ‘Nudo’ & ‘Nudo – Ravenna, 1982). ‘Woman’ is mother earth and in her womb germinates life that sucks from breasts nutritious milk that comforts satisfi es and quenches thirst.
His formidable series of spheres are organic and belong to Plato’s dictum that shapes are not merely relatively beautiful but are absolutely so. ‘Sfera rossa sul blu’ is superbly beautiful and its rotundity and spatial strength suggests Mars as seen from a powerful telescope not as desert but as a vibrant planet. ‘Sfera blu’ is about an immanent beauty. Its ultramarine blue echoes the emotion kindled by precious stones, evokes planet Earth as seen from outer space.
‘Stravolgente’ is the best way to describe it. In ‘Colori dell’Anima’ there is a burst of colour, emanating a song of joy, pleasure and beauty, a rare vibrant music.
In ‘Gente’ the artist is inspired by the social realism of Renato Guttuso (1912-27) while in ‘Vergine’, ‘Madre Celeste’ and ‘Mother and Child’ is felt an acute sense of humanism, a human element so strong in Paul’s fi gurative expression.
In public monuments such as ‘Verso l’alto’ and ‘Colonna Mediterranea’ Paul soars high into the air as if wanting to fly into the void on vertical columns that resemble Egyptian obelisks.
In Paul’s childhood his grandfather Gianni Vella (1885-1977) became his mentor and tutor (1973-77). ‘Morning Mist’ and ‘At Marfa’ are works that pay homage to Paul’s grandfather as they show the inspiration and influence of his tutor. Paul studied ceramics (1974-77) locally under Gianni Bonnici (1932-) and Gabriel Caruana (1929-) forming part of the third generation of ceramists during the 20th century.
In 1978 Paul was awarded a fi ve-year scholarship by the Italian Government.
He attended the ‘Gaetano Ballardini, Istituto Statale d’Arte per la Ceramica’ (1978-82), Faenza and the ‘Accademia di Belle Arti’ (1979-82) in Ravenna. He specialized in Fine Art & Ceramics and graduated B.A. Ceramics and M.A.
Fine Art. The best ceramists and sculptors at the time: Guido Mariani (1950-), Angelo Biancini (191-88), Mario Tassinari (9142-), Fulvio Ravaioli (1926-83) and C. Zauli (1952-1991) some of them international in status were some of his masters and tutors. Paul also obtained the diploma in Ceramics Restoration.
Paul’s studies are based on his apprenticeship years with his grandfather the well known painter Gianni Vella, his local studies with the best ceramists in Malta and his university and post-graduate studies in Italy, in Faenza and Ravenna internationally famous for specialized higher studies in ceramics. This academic background is the basis of works, the result of technique and talent such as his ‘Self-portrait’ (Faenza 1980), ‘Nudo’ (Ravenna 1982), ‘After Mantegna’ (Faenza 1981) and ‘Crocifi sso” (Faenza 1980). There is in Paul a persistent creative urge, a constant and insistent attempt to turn matter into pure energy. Ceramics and fi ring at high temperatures is an excellent choice to achieve this aim. His works are marked by an irresistible dynamic force, an explosive energy, a passionate and emotional nature, a hedonism at once prodigal and extravagant and bold, strong and powerful colours and glazes that melting temperatures in his kiln mould and crystallize into a personal romantic expression so exceptional and unique.
E. V. Borg
September 05th, 2010
All art works (paintings, sculptures, monuments, etc) and creative designs appearing in this website are the exclusive property of Paul Vella Critien and are protected under the International Copyright laws. The content found within this website may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written consent of Paul Vella Critien.
Use of any material published in this website is a violation of the International Copyright laws. All content is copyrighted ©2010