16/09/2008

"Life Drawing Exhibition"

Gibraltar Chronicle Interview

Here are some questions:
What is the idea behind this exhibition?
It is basically to show everyone the type of work that’s produced in our regular weekly life drawing sessions.
Why The Body?
Gino Sanguinetti came up with the title for the exhibition and really it says it all. Life Drawing is about the body; male or female.
What will be on display?
From sketches to oils and acrylic paintings and in all possible styles from a very conservative photographic approach to more adventurous and experimental work.
From who?
From a wide cross section of local artists that regularly attend these sessions namely: Allan Perez, Peter Parody, Christian Hook, Leslie Gaduzo, Aaron Soleci, Lorraine Buhagiar, John Culatto, Paul Cosquieri.
Over how long a period have you been working on these works?
This work has all been produced in the last calendar year.
Tell me a little about the life drawing sessions?
For me life drawing is to artist what training is to sportsmen. But on top of this the sessions have become a hub for new ideas and a get together of a new generation of artist that are beginning to establish themselves in the Gibraltar Art scene.
Who are the regulars?
The ones exhibiting are the hard core but there is also a few satellites who occasionally and sporadically turn up in the sessions when their personal lives allow them to.
Do you get young artists - how important would you say these sessions are for them?
Yes we do get some students turning up every now and then but I feel more should attend as I feel it is very important for their development not only from the practical angle i.e. fine tuning their technique, but also from a more philosophical angle as a wide range of ideas and artistic concepts are discussed in these sessions. I would definitely like to see most of the A level students attending as it would go a long ways towards loosening them up in an artistic point of view and also improve their portfolios.
What do you each take from these sessions - what is their significance and importance on a personal level - I suppose that the getting together and meeting of ideas is also important?
I’ve greatly answered this question above but if I had to sum it up I would say that the “tertulia” side of the sessions is as important if not more than the actual painting. When you interchange ideas with other artist you no longer work in a void and insecurities you might have about your own work tend to disappear when you compare and discuss your work with other artists even if they are more gifted than you might be or might be on a different path to yours.
Is the group part of the Fine Arts Gallery?
Yes.
How important is it to have these sessions?
For me it is fundamental. I would be completely detached from the global art scene if I did not regularly attend these sessions. I do not think it is artistically healthy to work in a bubble. Artists also have a tendency of enjoying meeting up with fellow artists and although you could argue that we could do this over a cup of coffee, when you work together you are bound to get feedback from the others and this is the important thing together with the practice and technique.
Can anyone go along?
Anyone can come along on Thursdays at 7pm at the Fine Arts Gallery. There is a small fee of £4 which goes towards paying the model’s fee.
Who are the models?
There are two or three regular models plus the odd new one every now and then. Usually its people who are either art lovers or need a bit of extra cash. But primarily it is people who feel at ease with their own nudity and truly understand that there is nothing clandestine about Nude Life Drawing.
When are they held?
Every Thursday at 7pm.
And anthing else you may care to add.
I would like to encourage more people to turn up. I know there are a lot of people out there with a strong feeling for art who are either too busy or scared to take the first step and start painting. I know that it is a daunting feeling at first (I’ve been there myself) especially when you see the standard of work produced, but nobody ever makes fun of anyone’s work and remember we have all at some point felt that “stage freight”. Imagine the pleasure you can take out of it once you have overcome that initial fear of painting in front of others. There is also the added bonus that you will inevitably get some free coaching and assistance from the more experienced artist attending.

Gallery

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  • Aaron Soleci
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  • Aaron Soleci
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  • Peter Parody
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  • Peter Parody
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  • Paul Cosquieri
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  • Paul Cosquieri
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  • Leslie Gaduzo
• 
  • Leslie Gaduzo
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  • Allan Perez
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  • Allan Perez