Maltese clock

Maltese clock

This traditional clock which forms part of our Maltese folk dates back to the 17^th century, Apart from the normal use of a clock this particular clock is also to décor houses especially with houses of a traditional style and look.  This clock was only hung in wall of corridors or halls and also in use of corridors in public places as well they were found in some Maltese churches.

Usually this clock can be defined as a true and not a replica by seeing the carving on the wooden frame and the high quality machinery inside the clock. There is need of 2 people to finish this product a clockmaker ,carpenter and the gilder painter, the carpenter takes care of finishing the wooden case the clock maker takes care of the machinery and the glinder painter takes care of the finishing of the clock. The Maltese clock is also know as ‘tal-lira’ which is named after our previous Maltese currency the ‘lira’ this name took place also because this clock was being sold for just only a ‘lira’ which didn’t really make sense knowing the fact that 3 qualified artisans contributed for a very small amount of money. This name is said to be labelled to our famous clock by our ancestors which would call it ‘tal-lira’ clock not because of the expense or cost of the Maltese clock.  The Maltese clock is so beautiful because of his characteristics such as the wooden frame the two doors we find both in and outside this clock and the famous traditional clock face. On the face of the clock you find only two hands for the hour mark and the minute mark this clock does not have the second hand on it’s face which was made by a purpose to keep the traditional look from it’s face. What is interesting as well in this clock is that you find the corners usually decorated with floral painting and patterns with gild. This clock was not mass produced by real artisans but only produced this to their customers, customers had different quires on how they would like their clock to look but even if this clock changed a bit for certain customers it usually changed in colour not design so to keep the tradition going.

In the middile of the hands dial you usually find a small hand painting which their you usually find a landscape of our attraction villages in Malta such as Marsaxlokk, Mdina or Valletta. This clock’s face has a part which is inspired by the Romans and us the Maltese decided to include the Roman numbers to a very important area in our traditional clock.

Nowadays these clocks are very popular but also very expensive to find many replicas are still being crafted today, the charateristics of this clock is what makes it unique and I hope we keep this tradition going cause it is a big hounor for us to have our own Maltese clock.



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References:
https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/

Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. 2015. Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. [ONLINE] Available at: https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/. [Accessed 16 May 2015].

The Maltese bus

The Maltese Bus.

Traditionally the Maltese bus started out as a public transport back in the day, but a few years ago this famous bus that had carried out a lot of unique Maltese history it was replaced by the Arriva that is now used for the same purpose as a public transport for citizens. The Maltese traditional bus was a very attracting bus not only cause of the eye catching design but also the type that in written on these buses usually using an inspiring quote for the owner of the bus.

Unfortunately Malta in my opinion has lost one of the best tourist attraction  and also I am gutted because of the loss of the unique history that was lost with it, Local Maltese owners of this traditional bus were also hit drastically by this decision as cruising the Maltese island from their daily routes to transport people from one place to the other was their job. On the other hand now after using the Arriva for up to 4 years Malta has stood up to keep our rich traditions alive, At least we can see our traditional buses featured as show cases or even also they are being used as wedding transport. This Maltese bus was used up to 90 years this traditional bus started cruising our beautiful island at the year of 1920,    This is one of Malta’s first bus which as you can see is very different then the usual image that comes to mind when mentioning the Maltese traditional bus, this bus had less capacity of carrying people and also has a very beautiful traditional design to this public transport, this is still used today as a tourist attraction. In the 1970’s  bus operation were centralised because of the damage was done by these busses to our air with fuel. After this traditional Maltese bus the Maltese government had made a decision to design and produce to the public a very different style of the Maltese bus this was called the visit Malta bus  This was the bus all of us knew well ‘The shining chrome bus’.

Inspirations from this bus: Now in Malta we often see the Maltese sight seeing bus for tourist to cruise the Maltese island in this bus decker which was inspired from our own traditional bus, The shape and style of the traditional Maltese bus gives you indication of the similarities of the London bus which is found and still used in the capital of England.

Our Maltese bus is part of our rich culture and will hope to see it integrate more in our lifestyle to keep the tradition alive and also to show off our very luxurious culture for such a small island.

  
The Malta sightseeing tour bus. http://www.visitmalta.com/en/tour-buses

. 2015. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.visitmalta.com/en/tour-buses. [Accessed 02 May 2015].


London bus http://imgkid.com/london-red-bus.shtml

References: http://www.publictransport.com.mt/home?l=1
Malta Public Transport - Home . 2015. Malta Public Transport - Home . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.publictransport.com.mt/home?l=1. [Accessed 02 May 2015].

http://website.lineone.net/~alan.c.edwards/maltabus.html
Malta and Gozo Route Buses. 2015. Malta and Gozo Route Buses. [ONLINE] Available at: http://website.lineone.net/~alan.c.edwards/maltabus.html. [Accessed 02 May 2015]

Maltese Feasts

Maltese Folklore
Feasts

Every single city in Malta Annually celebrates their parish patron saint, there are some cities that have more then 1 feast a year which this causes more rivalry in which whom will celebrate their feast the best way possible. These feasts contribute in forming part of the Maltese culture, Naturally these feasts are celebrated by beautiful designed fireworks and also air fireworks and people gathering in the square of their hometowns to celebrate.

The people who take part in the fireworks section can tell you the dedication and the number of hours and money yearly needed to form this beautiful event. The fireworks are mainly worked from 2 club bands that would be the rivalry of each other and the street decorations are usually done by the churches workers or helpers. Every section is key to operate perfectly to co ordinate this big and very awaited by numerous both local and foreign people. These events are carried out through the cities all over Malta during the summer period so apart from the huge attraction the beautiful island of Malta brings during summer this also is a huge attraction to foreigners to come and visit this island and see our unique culture at it’s prime. Throughout this week you also find brass band cruising the city and making beautiful music behind the patron statue. This is the opportunity for people from the village to catch up at their square and talk about recent activities, the weakly feast also attracts families to meet and have the opportunity to appreciate the city that would come to life for that week which is special but the feast is mostly known for teenagers or people of a younger age which they express their youthfulness in this special week where everyone is dancing with their favourite brass band and making music which salutes their respectful patron. One of the most known feats in Malta is of the Our Lady of Victories which celebrates the defeat of the Turks at the end of the Great Siege in 1565.

Undoubtably the village’s feats is one of the main things in our culture which contributing in one week by food stands that sells traditional food, fireworks brass bands the gathering of the public and the most important the respectful message shown to the home tow’s patron saint. At that week apart from all being sad above the attractions in focused on the luxurious decor of the church both inside out which is the main importance. From the inside of the church you would find hand made beautiful red damask (Because the black damask is used on the great Friday) and the outside of the church with all beautiful bright bulbs are turned on at night.

These Feasts carry out passion and a lot of hard work yearly which is all produced in that week so apart from the natural respectful aspect there is also passion and determination to a lot of people and that is why in my opinion this is such a beautiful and important culture for Malta.


https://www.maltaproducts.com/Folklore--Traditional_Maltese_Feasts.html




References: https://www.maltaproducts.com/Folklore--Traditional_Maltese_Feasts.html
Traditional Maltese Feasts | Made in Malta Products. 2015. Traditional Maltese Feasts | Made in Malta Products. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.maltaproducts.com/Folklore--Traditional_Maltese_Feasts.html. [Accessed 21 April 2015].

Ghonella by Clayton Falzon

Primary Source

History post.
Maltese folklore
Ghonella

Mostly heard of name was the Ghonella although this traditional dress was also called as the Faldetta in Malta. The Ghonella is a unique dress in many ways both in style and in tradition, the reason being is that it’s part of our culture and tradition in the traditional women’s clothing and fashion. This dress was mostly found made with the cotton or silk material and mainly the colour was found in black, There were also white Ghonnielen that were dressed In the late 16^th century by noble or women of a higher standard then other women in society, Ladies who wore the white Ghonella were doing this to identify or distinguish different classes in society. The Ghonella had the luxury to be worn both tight or loose mostly for summer because of the high temperatures Malta see’s at that period of time.

In varies part of Malta villages used words for the Ghonella in different ways for example in Gharugur the Ghonella was called the’ Stamina’. Mostly found in Zabbar and Zejtun women used to wear varies types of Ghonelliet which there were found Ghonelliet of a different style then the norm, These dresses were found decorated with polka dots and floral embroidery. In these parts the Ghonella was called the Culqana. The origins of this famous and unique traditional Maltese dress were never found, but it was described as a ‘western garment’, Some Maltese historians said that they believed that it evolved from the Sicilian traditional dress. According to local historian this dressed moved to Malta in 1224 originated from Sicilia. By time the meaning of women wearing the Ghonella changed, in 1798 was theoretically said that this traditional dress was worn to try to prevent from unwanted troops of Napoleon. In 1935 this traditional dress was rumoured to have developed under certain religious restrictions and believes.
Secondary source (Vassallohistory.wordpress.com) 260x426 Faldetta.

Some people also used to be controversial about this traditional dress most comments would be on how beautiful a women’s face is and this dress had the ability to take away the freedom of women showing their natural beauty, but as may all of you know most of the people at that time especially men weren’t open minded as the majority of us today, in their era or period of time to women unfortunately had less human rights then men, covering half of a women’s face by this dress was an inspiration from the arab cukture which Malta was influenced by so much mainly because of the rule over Malta between the years of 869-1127. After the World War 2 the Ghonella tradition was being lost, by the 1970’s it was rarly seen in Malta it was only seeing by old people who still carried the tradition, by the end of the 20^th centuary it was disappeared and all the history after it was lost, nowadays we only can see the Ghonella in some museums across Malta and Gozo or mainly vintage postcards or photos of this luxurious and unique traditional dress that carries out such an interesting history behind it.




References:
 https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/

The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/. [Accessed 13 April 2015]

Essay on Phillipe Starck by Clayton Falzon

Phillipe Starck
Designer
Essay on design.

Phillipe Starck is a globally known designer who always looks forward for new innovative designs despite the completed inventions made by this designer. Judging by his work and the way of talking out his ideas with us he is a very open minded person and is always keen to learn new things and develop them in his innovative designs.

Starck is a contemporary artist with a mission for new lifestyle in what includes design and also with his contemporary design he is highly profound of environmental consequences, His design vary from mega yachts, hotels, electric cars, furniture and so on. As you can see he is a very talented designer with the ability to perform creative and eye dropping designs in different areas in the industry. His architecture is mostly found in Japan he started producing his building in the same country, the Nani Nani building was a very impressive design, this building was Starck’s 1st every to be designed and produced to the public by him. With Japan having so restrctions on building he couldn’t produce an out come that shows emotion in his work so he produced a highly functional piece. This building also reminds me of art deco, his architecture design inthis buildings shape shows that is close to the art deco luxurious design.

 

(Nani Nani building by Phillipe Starck, 1989,
http://users.design.ucla.edu/~cebriggs/portfolio/DESMA_24/stark/arch.html)

We can also find his work in hotels, Luxurious hotels that are found all over the word that were produce by Starck the thing that inspired me most apart from his design in architecture is the luxery of the design in the interior and furniture.


Hotel Sanderson, London 2000. http://www.fashionbubbles.com/historia-da-moda/philippe-starck-o-arquiteto-e-designer-frances-que-reinventa-objetos-manipula-espacos-e-cria-ambientes-em-um-estilo-unico/)

As you can see his work is very much futuristic, The fact that this picture above shows that this was done  at the year of 2000 his designs are very much close to what we see and call contemporary designs or futuristic designs.

Phillipe Starck in my opinion is a designer that would be likely to influence designers or artist in the future especially bearing in mind his works mostly are thought through to be  environmental friendly and that would be a key factor to all designer in the future and would be a must criteria in their work. Apart from that being said this designers work speaks for it’s self Starck is a very intelligent person not just in design but also technologically advanced this is a true definition of a contemporary artist and his innovative designs are a key boost to our future in design this is an artist that in leading the industry in what comes under the criteria of futuristic design.


 
References:
http://www.fashionbubbles.com/historia-da-moda/philippe-starck-o-arquiteto-e-designer-frances-que-reinventa-objetos-manipula-espacos-e-cria-ambientes-em-um-estilo-unico/

Philippe Starck - O arquiteto e designer francês que reinventa objetos, manipula espaços e cria ambientes em um estilo único - Fashion Bubbles - Moda como Arte, Cultura e Estilo de VidaFashion Bubbles – Moda como Arte, Cultura e Estilo de Vida. 2015. Philippe Starck - O arquiteto e designer francês que reinventa objetos, manipula espaços e cria ambientes em um estilo único - Fashion Bubbles - Moda como Arte, Cultura e Estilo de VidaFashion Bubbles – Moda como Arte, Cultura e Estilo de Vida. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fashionbubbles.com/historia-da-moda/philippe-starck-o-arquiteto-e-designer-frances-que-reinventa-objetos-manipula-espacos-e-cria-ambientes-em-um-estilo-unico/. [Accessed 04 April 2015].

http://users.design.ucla.edu/~cebriggs/portfolio/DESMA_24/stark/arch.html

Architecture/Interior Design. 2015. Architecture/Interior Design. [ONLINE] Available at: http://users.design.ucla.edu/~cebriggs/portfolio/DESMA_24/stark/arch.html. [Accessed 04 April 2015].

http://www.starck.com/en/philippe_starck/biography/#to_know_more

Starck + Philippe Starck + Biography. 2015. Starck + Philippe Starck + Biography. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.starck.com/en/philippe_starck/biography/#to_know_more. [Accessed 04 April 2015]

Visit on art by Clayton Falzon

Visit on art.

Artist name: Alfie Gatt
Gallery visited: Alluring Vignettes
Location: Valletta
Held by: Malta Society of arts, Palazzo del la Salle, 219 Republic street Valletta.

Alfie Gatt is a practising artist who studied at MCAST, acquiring a National Diploma in Art and design, and an International Diploma in arts and crafts. He also worked as a designer and visual editor. His art is inspired by music, illustration, street art and nature.

The artworks exhibited in his gallery shows a very good visual image in the connection between art and the human figure. I particularly found the use of mixed media and the highly use of contrasting colours very effective. The message of Alfie’s work is also very inspiring by linking nature with us humans. Apart from his art pieces, I found the gallery and the way he also included visual imagery and videos of the process of his work which is very innovative and helping you understand the meaning of each and every art piece exhibited.
  
(So High   mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 70cmx50cm)        

Brushworks, aquarelles, ink and pencil are an obvuise use in Alfie’s work which most of the time he also uses mixed media in his work, he also captures the different emotions humans share with the addition of natural theme’s. In alfie’s work I really find inspiering the use of droplets from scenes that shows continues movement and the blending of highly contrasting colours. I noticed all of his portraits are of women human faces and the only artworks of the male body are art works of himeself or ‘Self portraits’. This artist also shows a good example of the proportion of the human figure and adding the detail of natural elements that shape and form the human figure. I really like the realistic espect especially in the faces of his work that shows detail and mostly he gives importance to how realistic the eyes look and give a sense of emotion to his work so the eyes are a key object in his works. The smoothness of his work is also a vert attractive things which shows how good his technique is in blending colours and using mixed materials.

This artist message through his work shows us how important life is and being able to understand that is a very important thing in life his works shows being close to nature is also a very important thing which leaves us with a message in mind to respect all living things, our body is a natural gift and could not be gifted a better thing than having to feel all the emotions in life. This artist cleary wants us to know that thorugh his work and that is why I really love his work.
 
(Something in my heart  mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 50cmx52cm)

(Madre Natura mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 100cmx70cm)


(Eden I mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 70cmx53cm)

   
(Kosmic Blues I mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 60cmx52cm)


(Tainted Love mix media on Fabriano watercolour paper 78cmx50cm)

References:  http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-03-18/newspaper-lifestyleculture/Alluring-Vignettes-exhibition-by-Alfie-6736132376

Alluring Vignettes exhibition by Alfie - The Malta Independent . 2015. Alluring Vignettes exhibition by Alfie - The Malta Independent . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-03-18/newspaper-lifestyleculture/Alluring-Vignettes-exhibition-by-Alfie-6736132376. [Accessed 28 March 2015].

Extra post on design. Clayton Falzon

Essay Design.

Samuel Bing.

Samuel Bing was a person who made his living thanks to art, Samuel was an art dealer who was a key factor to introducing Japanese art and artwork’s through the Western countries. Which later on it lead to developing the Art Nouveau style in the late 19^th century. The South Kensington Museum was buying art objects from Bing in the year of 1875 the art objects that were bought from Bing were all Japanese and Chinese styled artworks.

 (Picture of Samuel Bing from https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/siegfried-bing/)

Bing was originally born in the city of Hamburg Germany, but later on at the age of 16 he moved in the country of France. His career began in the Bing family business of manufacturing ceramics, from the 3^rd quarter of the century at the year of 1870 he began dealing and importing mostly Japanese art objects and also some Asian styled Artwork’s through galleries. The redesigning of his art gallery took place in the year of 1895 with naming his gallery as  ‘Maison de l’Art Nouveau’. ‘This gallery sold contemporary art objects with a Japanese influence , in what came to be known as the Art Nouveau style.’ (Article: Siegfried 'Samuel' Bing URL:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/siegfried-samuel-bing/ Published on N.D.)



 

(A stoneware jar by Alexandre Bigot with silver-gilt mount. Purchased from Maison Bing, Paris, 1900)

(Picture of a Japanese vase taken from http://www.ebay.com/gds/Your-Guide-to-Buying-Japanese-Vases-/10000000177627939/g.html)

Bing was an inspiration to many artists especially young artists that he have had helped a lot through his life introducing Art Nouveau in Europe, He inspired a lot of people with the introduction of Japanese art in Europe and gave them bases and opportunities for contemporary artist to exhibit their work and even sell artist’s work. Many artist are well know today all because of the invention of the gallery La Maison Bing, This gallery helped artist show and sell their work in his exebhition one of the artist that also exhibited there was Henri van de Velde. Henri was a well known Belgian architect who designed mostly furniture and also used to be a writer. Bing won a gold medal Paris World’s exhibition and the quality of his work has proven that a certain quality in decorative art pieces in large scales was possible.

Samuel Bing’s work was influenced a lot by the Japanese style and that is what created the introduction to Art Nouveau with European countries his work is decorative and gives an element of perfection and precision.  Bing’s influence on today’s design is mostly evident on house wear products such as decorative vases with the interpretation of the Japanese style. This is on what Bing has mostly influenced the world of craftsmen today his influence in pottery is still in existence.

References

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/siegfried-samuel-bing/ (Siegfried 'Samuel' Bing - Victoria and Albert Museum. 2015. Siegfried 'Samuel' Bing - Victoria and Albert Museum. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/siegfried-samuel-bing/. [Accessed 09 March 2015].)


https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/siegfried-bing/ (Siegfried Bing (1838-1905) | Art Nouveau. 2015. Siegfried Bing (1838-1905) | Art Nouveau. [ONLINE] Available at: https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/siegfried-bing/. [Accessed 09 March 2015].)


http://www.senses-artnouveau.com/biography.php?artist=BIN
VAN DE VELDE, Henri VAN DE VELDE biography by senses-artnouveau.com . 2015. VAN DE VELDE, Henri VAN DE VELDE biography by senses-artnouveau.com . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.senses-artnouveau.com/biography.php?artist=VAN. [Accessed 10 March 2015].