https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/12474 2026-04-14T15:25:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100890 Title: The visual culture of death in Malta, 1675-1814 : art and the rituals of death in an age in which plague was a feared reality Abstract: The visual culture and the accompanying rituals of death have, through time immemorial, helped to dilute the sorrowful finality of loss; they were a means through which death, grievance and mourning were sanitised, aestheticised and at times, turned into sheer spectacle. This study examines and contextualizes the intricate, sometimes colourful, visual culture that evolved around the subject of death in the Catholic world, focusing especially on Malta during a period bookended by two devastating plague bouts, namely, the plague of 1675-6 and that of 1813-14. This artistic legacy was the direct result of a host of religious beliefs, doctrines, rituals and mores, and, more often than not, it developed independently of plague spells or other calamitous events. One cannot, however, rule out the possibility that large-scale catastrophes could have impacted upon this visual legacy. An intricate iconography— upon which this study elaborates—was developed around the plague. It is consequently an ongoing discourse of the present study—a leitmotif—to determine the extent of influence wielded by calamities (with a particular reference to the two plague-bouts in question) on the development of the visual culture of death in Malta. A secondary theme herewith tackled is the charting of possible changes in people’s ways of thinking about death. Such changes, if present at all, might have been very subtle, almost imperceptible, and possibly stratified; this means that new ideas would have perfectly co-existed with older ones. These possible changes are inferred through, amongst others: careful analyses of plague or death related imagery; a sample study of last wills and testaments; research in contemporary literature and diaries. For the most part this study explores and meditates upon the ways art offered hope and possible redemption in the face of death and disease. It delves into those ways art transformed a severance or a terrible disease into a codified and a wholesome, if not a desirable, event; the wavs in which art offered tangible, believable answers to the unfathomable mysteries of humanity’s existence: suffering, death and afterlife. Description: PH.D.HISTORY OF ART 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72861 Title: The visual culture of death in Malta : 1675-1814 art and the rituals of death in an age in which plague was a feared reality Abstract: The visual culture and the accompanying rituals of death have, through time immemorial, helped to dilute the sorrowful finality of loss; they were a means through which death, grievance and mourning were sanitised, aestheticised and at times, turned into sheer spectacle. This study examines and contextualizes the intricate, sometimes colourful, visual culture that evolved around the subject of death in the Catholic world, focusing especially on Malta during a period bookended by two devastating plague bouts, namely, the plague of 1675-6 and that of 1813-14. This artistic legacy was the direct result of a host of religious beliefs, doctrines, rituals and mores, and, more often than not, it developed independently of plague spells or other calamitous events. One cannot, however, rule out the possibility that large-scale catastrophes could have impacted upon this visual legacy. An intricate iconography— upon which this study elaborates—was developed around the plague. It is consequently an ongoing discourse of the present study—a leitmotif—to determine the extent of influence wielded by calamities (with a particular reference to the two plague-bouts in question) on the development of the visual culture of death in Malta. A secondary theme herewith tackled is the charting of possible changes in people’s ways of thinking about death. Such changes, if present at all, might have been very subtle, almost imperceptible, and possibly stratified; this means that new ideas would have perfectly co-existed with older ones. These possible changes are inferred through, amongst others: careful analyses of plague or death related imagery; a sample study of last wills and testaments; research in contemporary literature and diaries. For the most part this study explores and meditates upon the ways art offered hope and possible redemption in the face of death and disease. It delves into those ways art transformed a severance or a terrible disease into a codified and a wholesome, if not a desirable, event; the ways in which art offered tangible, believable answers to the unfathomable mysteries of humanity’s existence: suffering, death and afterlife. Description: PH.D.HISTORY OF ART 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15735 Title: Artistic perceptions on the state and significance of the natural environment Abstract: The scope of this research is primarily to better understand our perception of the natural environment and the issues it faces, with special focus on how this cognition of environmental issues can be presented, reflected, and interpreted through art in order to raise awareness about the importance of nature in everyday life. The devastating environmental disaster occurring worldwide raise personal questions regarding our relationship with the natural world, and more significantly on our perception of the environment. Seeing a garden in the neighborhood that had formed a part of my own personal memories, destroyed, prompted me to dedicate to and focus this project on the environmental issue of uprooting trees. This inspired me to come up with an interactive installation of hanging see-through chiffon sheets, printed with the same trees that has been destroyed, for the viewers to go around, explore and reflect on their perception towards the natural environment and the critical role played by trees in our lives. The aim behind this project is, in fact, to send a positive message. One emphasizing that it is time to start rebuilding what humans have been destroying, and begin protecting the environment instead of continue destroying it. Many environmentalists, NGOs, as well as artists, are depicting environmental issues and the circumstances in order to raise environmental awareness. Raising such awareness is of outmost important to educate the people but I believe there is something more important that needs to come from each individual. Humankind must begin to have more consideration for the natural world and, more importantly address the significance of our perception towards the natural world. In order to understand this thought process and plan the final installation project, to carry out this research I analyzed and prepared an overview of humanity’s relationship with the natural world, the nature of human perception towards the environment, and artistic perceptions on the natural environment. I also investigated the crucial role of trees in our lives and the benefits they provide. To this end, I opted to use the process of printmaking and carried out various experiments with different printing techniques and other materials that could best present the concept. Description: M.A.FINE.ARTS 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15623 Title: Modern irregular Argonauts : an artistic representation on the experiences of irregular immigrants Abstract: The project is entitled 'Modern Irregular Argonauts', because of the parallelism between the present irregular migration crisis and the Greek epic poem 'Argonautica'. In the ancient text, Apollonius Rhodius tells the myth of a long journey undertaken by Jason and a group of heroes (who called themselves the Argonauts) across the Mediterranean Sea on board a ship named 'Argos'. Their mission was to retrieve the Golden Fleece situated in the city of Colchis. The journey turned out to be a very dangerous trip, with a lot of obstacles along the way which made their quest seem impossible. Akin to the mythological myth, today's migrants are embarking on perilous journeys in search for their Golden Fleece - freedom from persecution and conflicts. Similarly, this journey for freedom is full of obstacles with some of them being deadly. Unfortunately, the Mediterranean Sea has become a 'vast graveyard', with thousand of migrants drowning every year in their attempt to reach mainland Europe. Conflicts and persecution force these refugees to leave their motherland and embark on this long and dangerous journey in search for liberty and peace. In the Greek epic poem, Jason and the Argonauts eventually fulfil their mission and acquire the Golden Fleece. For most of the irregular immigrants, however, and even if they do manage to arrive at their European destination, the obstacles between them and their Golden Fleece persist in the form of detention, difficult integration within new political communities, and racism. Description: M.A.FINE ARTS 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z