Interview: Roderick Camilleri
Luca Curci talks with Roderick Camilleri during CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2021 and THE BODY LANGUAGE 2021 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Roderick Camilleri is a practising artist and a curator. He studied philosophy, Art and Art History at the University of Malta, and holds a B.A. (2010) and an M.A. (2015). He attended various professional development programmes, furthering his studies at international institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts (London) and Slade University (London), as well as, at professional studios in Edinburgh, Rome, and Marrakesh, amongst others. Camilleri is an active participant in the local art scene. His interdisciplinary visual art practice explores themes related to ontology, metaphysics and materiality. Camilleri works as a full-time art educator, teaching studio-practice and theory at the Malta School of Art in Valletta. He is currently the Vice-President of the Malta Society of Arts. He was also the Artistic Director of AMuSE, an international art project focusing on materiality and multi-sensorial art led by the Malta Society of Arts, selected and co-funded by the European Commission.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Roderick Camilleri – My background is defined by my main areas of research, namely philosophy and art. I work at the intersection of these two fields. The work revolves around topics rooted in ontology and metaphysics, commenting on man and his environment.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
RC – My current artistic practice is deeply informed by the present context. It is fuelled by the urgent need to address climate change issues, and the ever-growing consumerist capitalist phenomenon. My artistic practice also explores new methods and processes that are innovative and environmentally friendly, aiming towards carbon-neutral approaches, whilst propagating a visual narrative linked to the conservation of life and climate justice. I am also involved in several projects that aim to find newfound sources and methods of sustainable eco-friendly expressions.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it like your medium of expression?
RC – Yes, art is one of my main mediums of expressions. It is both a way to rethink how I can relate to my surroundings, and a creative means to materialise and disclose my concerns and thoughts.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
RC – Every work has a life of its own, and my engagement with it depends on various factors. I am continuously thinking about new possibilities given that every work recreates new trajectories.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
RC – I do not think I have a particular style. It is more about the underlying approach and content which binds all the work together. This underlying element gives my oeuvre a specific dimension and character.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
RC – ITSLIQUID group provides a versatile platform that generates a creative ecosystem whereby artists are given a conducive artistic environment and coverage. This healthy setting proffers new opportunities for joint-ventures, engendering a productive network, and stimulates dialogues between different art communities. The theme provides a vital context for different artists, opening new borders for diversified artistic thoughts and reflections about identities and societies.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
RC – As mentioned in the previous question, my work represents personal concerns about urgent issues related to the environment, rooted in the current context of the pandemic and other threatening forces. Such pressing issues are manifested in different forms. The work presented for this festival puts forward a visual expression for climate justice. It conveys a fictive narrative that talks about the future of the human state of being and the emergence of a possible post-natural condition.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
RC – Yes, it would be a lovely and exciting possibility. I think such a collaboration would provide motivating, productive results. The sterling services offered by ITSLIQUID Group are highly rewarding, efficient, and resourceful – providing a professional context to emerging and established artists.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID Group can represent an opportunity for artists?
RC – Yes, I believe that ITSLIQUID Group presents a unique opportunity to all those innovative and forward-thinking artists interested in exploring new creative scenarios to showcase their work and artistic projects.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
RC – Yes, very much so. It was a unique experience that stimulated fresh ventures and promoted new opportunities.