Artist in Residence Archives - The Phoenicia Malta

A chat with Sue Gregory

This month’s Artist in Residence welcomes Sue Gregory, a relatively new painter who discovered her love for art during Covid times. The tight restrictions across the island meant that people found themselves spending more time at home. In certain instances, this also gave people the opportunity to explore activities they previously never found time for, such as the case with Sue Gregory.

Sue explains that she had always been good at drawing and that as a child she was constantly with a sketch pad and pencil in hand. She adds, ‘I never, however, attended art lessons and never ever tried painting using a paintbrush. I only tried during the Covid lockdown, using a small notebook and children’s watercolours.’

A former children’s teacher for 30 years, Sue took the leap and decided to venture into being a full-time artist. Not for a lack of passion for teaching, but because she had discovered a new passion for painting. ‘I felt that I could not give my 100% to both. So, with the support of my husband, I took the plunge and called it a day, and started a brand-new way of life,’ she shares.

Walking through Sue’s first exhibition at The Phoenicia Malta’s Palm Court Lounge, titled A Mélange of Moods, one will quickly notice that the artist explores a number of different styles and techniques. She shares that the most time-consuming would be her ink and watercolour buildings, as they are very difficult and detailed. When asked whether she has a favourite style, Sue explains, ‘I don’t really have a favourite, because I have many different styles which reflect my personality and mood on that particular day. But I do love painting flowers!’

When asked what inspires her and how she seeks inspiration when this is lacking, Sue shares that she tends to find inspiration everywhere. ‘Anything can inspire me: a tree, a person walking in the road, a picture on a magazine, a quaint house, a beautiful antique building. Just about anything! Depending on what I feel like painting on the day.’ Sue adds that she likes to take photos wherever she goes, which she keeps in a folder named ‘Pictures to paint’, this way she’s never out of inspiration.

Sue’s opening night proved to be a very successful launch, with Palm Court Lounge buzzing with excitement and positive energy. ‘I was amazed at the feedback’, Sue admits. ‘I was fortunate to sell a third of my paintings on the first day and have since replaced them with new paintings which I luckily had already framed. I was thrilled and very proud of my success. I am grateful to everyone who helped make my launch a success.’

Discussing her plans for the future, Sue shares that she will definitely continue to learn and plans to take more online courses, develop techniques and continue to paint as long as her health allows. ‘I also teach art to children, and I intend to develop this path further,’ she adds, a clear demonstration that her passion for teaching children is still very much alive. ‘I shall start working towards my next exhibition!’ she concludes enthusiastically.

We would like to thank the talented Sue Gregory for choosing The Phoenicia Malta as the venue for her first exhibition, and we would like to wish her every success in her new journey.

Getting to know Kenneth Zammit Tabona

Over the past weeks, Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia Malta has hosted Kenneth Zammit Tabona’s beautiful watercolours, in an exhibition titled ‘Mediterranean Dreams’. We sat down with Kenneth to learn about his artistic journey and what inspires him.

When asked how his passion for art came about, Kenneth explains that he believes a person is born with that passion. He goes on to recount how as a young boy he used to enjoy scribbling everywhere, including on walls and especially in his schoolbooks. He smiles and describes how his father used to call him ‘his Picasso,’ whilst his mother used to get angry as his scribbles meant that they would not be able to resell his schoolbooks.

Kenneth’s first medium was pen and ink, which is a far cry from the colourful works we see today. Kenneth reminisces how a sketch he drew for fun was soon followed by an invitation to illustrate Nicholas de Piro’s ‘Lost Letters’. This event truly brought out Kenneth’s artistic side and, one could say, is what influenced him to truly delve into his talent. Feeling a bit more adventurous, Zammit Tabona eventually introduced another medium to his works: gouache.

This led to him hosting his first big solo exhibition in 1992 and another at the Melitensia Art Gallery in 1995. Both were sell-outs. ‘It was quite extraordinary!’ he declares. ‘That’s how it started, how I found myself to be an artist,’ he says, adding that it is something he still finds it hard to believe. ‘Who, me? An artist?’ he exclaims.

Since then, Kenneth plucked the courage to move onto watercolours, which is a harder medium to master since it allows no room for error. ‘Watercolour always scared me a little bit. Gouache is more static, more obedient. As a medium it behaves. You want it there and it stays there. Watercolour tends to do things, so until you actually get round to how to how to used it, you can’t make mistakes.’

We talk about his current exhibition, ‘Mediterranean Dreams’, and he explains that he was inspired by his friend Marquis Anthony Cremona-Barbaro’s garden in Tarxien. Talking about the red walls that can be admired in this garden and is featured in a number of his paintings, Kenneth explains ‘To me the red is something so beautifully Mediterranean. It goes so well. That red which contrasts with the limpid blue skies of Malta and the green – it’s so vivid! It creates such a beautiful splash of colour.’

Chinese porcelain is also featured heavily in this exhibition. ‘Actually it was also Anthony who encouraged me to go into it. I then realised how beautiful it is. It truly is a fascinating study,’ he explains. Between gardens, red walls, blue and white porcelain, and Kenneth’s cat Felic gazing through the window, these paintings portray a wonderfully idyllic setting worthy of the term ‘Mediterranean Dreams’.

A Chat with Master Perfumer Stephen Cordina

Photo credit: Stephen Cordina

Our Artist in Residence for the month of November saw master perfumer Stephen Cordina introduce an abundance of essences to The Phoenicia Malta, whereby guests learnt more about this fascinating world through the weekly lectures held at the hotel. We had a chat with Stephen to understand where his passion stems from and where he would like to take his brand.

“I have been fascinated by scents all my life. As a child helping my father in his agricultural fields, I loved collecting fresh fruit and herbs in the morning dew and put them together in my hands to see how they smell together”, he shares. Stephen adds that as a child he loved going through his mother’s perfume, which then progressed to spending hours at a local perfume shop as a teen, going through all their perfumes.

Stephen Cordina explains that his first real creation goes back to 2001, when he developed a series of Aromatherapy ointments for use in his practice which he also sold to clients. “My first commercial product, however, was a series of Scented Candle Hand Balms”, he explains. Cordina added that his range is now approaching 50 products with much more emphasis on natural perfumes and colognes.

When listening to Stephen speak, his immense knowledge on the subject is evident. “I attended various schools and at first this included going through all the botanical plants and their chemistry. It’s many years of study and 12 years of practice to become a Perfumer. It entails a lot of reading and travel to the plantations where the materials are extracted. Lectures are ongoing, as well as conferences and one-to-one sessions with perfume technicians.”

Stephen Cordina explains that the scents he creates are all made in Malta and based on extensive research. In fact, even the name of the fragrance is based on a real connection between the name and the contents of the fragrance itself. The time and energy put into his products is clear and he admits that he has no plans of slowing down any time soon. ‘The next step is a bigger factory and a shop abroad’, he declares enthusiastically.

We would like to wish Stephen success in his future endeavours. It has been a pleasure to host Malta’s own master aromatherapist, cosmetic scientist and perfumer at The Phoenicia Malta.

Stephanie Borg Artist in Residence for October

Stephanie Borg - Artist in Residence - The Phoenicia Malta

For the month of October we welcome Stephanie Borg® as the Artist in Residence at The Phoenicia Malta. During this month you will find a series of artworks from the Malta Inspired Collection together with the Nwar Homeware and Tableware Collection displayed at the Palm Court Lounge.

The exhibition was officially launched on Friday 1st of October with a few privileged guests and partners of the Stephanie Borg® brand. The artist explained the inspiration and the hard work behind the Nwar Blue Blossom concept and its collection. Some ambitions for the future of this prestigious collection were also spilled.

“NWAR is the result of what has inspired me over these past 13 years since I began my Malta-inspired creative journey. It is a personal ode to the patterns and designs created by our forefathers who painstakingly executed their craft to perfection. My objective is to celebrate these crafts though contemporary design and application, thus allowing them to blossom into something new.”

A striking addition to the NWAR tablescape is the NWAR-themed stationery design by Stephanie Borg®. Compliment your tablescape with Place Cards, Menu Cards, favour boxes and Event Invitations for a coordinated set up that will impress your guests. The NWAR Blue Blossom Collection is also available for rent for weddings, private parties and corporate events.

Stephanie Borg, Artist (left), and General Manager Robyn Pratt (right)

Dott.ssa Dorothy Scicluna – Face of NWAR

NWAR Collection on display in the Palm Court Lounge

Photos taken by Therese Debono

The artist’s 2021 NWAR Limited Edition Silk Scarf was officially launched during the event at The Phoenicia. This bold yet elegant limited edition scarf in pure silk is a timeless fashionable addition to any wardrobe. Its blue and white pattern is another unique interpretation of the Nwar design concept. Stephanie has purposely chosen Dott.ssa Dorothy Scicluna as the Face of Nwar for 2021/2022.

Dott.ssa Scicluna is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist who has the well being of mind and body at heart ~ she puts her heart and soul in ensuring that those who seek her advise blossom into their full potential. And whilst going about listening, helping and guiding others, she is also a committed mother and friend. By choosing Dott.ssa Scicluna, Stephanie Borg®’s aim is to celebrate all the unsung heroes that are real life celebrities with those they meet.

The collection is limited to 200 silk scarfs each supplied with a numbered certificate by Stephanie Borg®. As per every annual tradition for Stephanie’s silk scarfs, clients have the option to reserve their favourite number from
year to year.

The NWAR concept is about creating unique pieces with a sense of heritage. Guests commented on the high quality craftsmanship and how each piece feels like a work of art. NWAR is about versatility triggering emotions. That’s the beauty of NWAR. Go on, discover NWAR.

Joe Smith as our latest Artist in Residence

Joe Smith Exhibition at The Phoeicia Malta

As part of our ongoing initiative to promote local talent, we welcomed Joe Smith as our Artist in Residence throughout September.

Joe has become a popular and well-known Maltese photographer both locally and abroad.

As a young man, prior to becoming a photographer, Joe was a keen painter with an interest in abstract art. “Even though I was painting all the time, I always had an interest in photography and knew that one day I would make the switch”, Joe reflected. “I bought my first NIKON camera in 1979 while on holiday in Canada. I spent six weeks snapping everything I saw, experimenting with different angles and shots. I was instantly hooked”.

In 1977, Joe joined the Public Service, and photography became a side project. However, even though it became his side hustle, Joe began exhibiting his pictures in 1981 which quickly led him to further opportunities to exhibit abroad.

By 1985, photography had started to become Joe’s main artistic activity. By 2008, Joe won a major EU competition called ‘Cultures on my Street’. Joe’s winning shot was that of a cobbler in Rabat, Malta. In 2014 and 2015, Joe was shortlisted in the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. He was the first Maltese artist to take part and exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He got shortlisted once again in 2021 with a series of three portraits.

In 2009, Joe published his first book called ‘Survivors – The Aging Population of Birgu’, which boasts breath-taking photos together with stories related by the average person going about their daily life in Birgu. “I love the human condition where the portrait says something about the sitter. I don’t like things to look too sterile, I like to capture the moment as it really is”, commented Joe when explaining his own particular style. With the first edition exceeding his own expectations, Joe will soon be releasing the second edition.

Joe has made a name for himself within the international community of photographers, and has travelled abroad to the UK, Dubai, and Italy to judge international competitions. We are proud to have Joe’s work on display at The Phoenicia Malta for everyone to enjoy. With an interest in dance, the images in our exhibition all focus on decisive moments captured throughout various performances such as ballet.

From Lego to London: Getting to know Anna Horvath

Sorgi by Anna Horvath - Artist in Residence - The Phoenicia Malta

As a young girl, Anna had a fascination with the way buildings were designed and built. Now, as a talented narrative designer, Anna Horvath, our artist in residence throughout July, August and September, helps companies to successfully design and build exhibition stands that literally stand out from the crowd.

Born and raised in Hungary, the young Anna always knew that she would be involved in design and the arts. “As a child, I was absolutely obsessed with Lego, I am still obsessed with Lego” mused Anna when speaking about her past. “I always had a fascination with buildings, how they were designed and built, I knew that I wanted to be a designer”.

After studying to become an architect back in Hungary, Anna moved to London to successfully complete an MA in Narrative Environments from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Her graduation was the beginning of a successful journey which led her to work on some exciting large-scale projects in London, Berlin, Lisbon, Budapest, and of course, Malta.

Anna’s impressive portfolio of work includes the Jewish Museum in Berlin, a pop-up store for Hermès’ Petit H collection in Lisbon, and her first furniture collection that was launched during the Paris Design Week.

Now based in Malta, Anna has created her own brand AHA Objects, focusing on furniture design. “My designs aim to be more than pure functional objects, there is often a hidden social, cultural, environmental or political commentary embedded”

Through AHA, Anna works with local manufacturers to design unique furniture collections for the local and international markets.

Anna’s latest project, SORĠI, focuses on the overdevelopment of Malta and the loss of heritage sustained over the past few years of intense construction work all over the island. SORĠI is helping to raise awareness on the urgent need for alternatives to speculative developments disrespectful of their contexts and Maltese heritage while seeking to offer sustainable solutions for the recycling of the increasing amounts of construction waste accumulating across the Maltese Islands.

“Construction waste is a big issue here in Malta, but sea plastic is also a major issue, I am passionate about raising awareness to find a better way of using and recycling this waste to create something worthwhile while helping the environment” commented Anna.

In Maltese, the word ‘Sorġi’ is derived from the Maltese verb ‘Sorga’, which means an anchoring ship or a person about to feel tired and would like to sit down. This perfectly encapsulates what Anna is trying to achieve through her work. Anna’s unique benches can be spotted all over the island, where passersby may rest and enjoy the view Anna has chosen to highlight through the careful placement of her work.

As our artist in residence throughout July, August and September, Anna’s Sorġi collection of outdoor furniture has been proudly displayed at The Phoenicia Malta.

Photos by Therese Debono