ISSUE 56
ART
18 · MONEY
Duncan has over two decades of experience in feature writing and journalism. He is also a freelance writer. In 2012, he was the national winner of the EU Health Prize for Journalists.
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BIGGER PICTURE
Duncan Barry interviews Chris Bianchi, a Maltese artist whose passion and dedication have brought him recognition in the UK creative industry.
Cover for the Rough Trade 40th anniversary book You are a hand-drawn, loose and cartoon artist. How did you get here? What drove you to move out of Malta? Ever since I was diagnosed with dyslexia in my young days I never got on with words. I turned to drawing instead, Iron Maiden posters at the time. Eventually, after going to Odysee, a ‘self-made’ art school, I decided it was time to go to the UK and get a proper art education. At first I felt strange since I had never been to an art class before. Most of the other
students attending this course had been studying art ever since they were at school. After seeing my work, my tutor suggested I was more of an illustrator and that is where it all started, focusing on the drawings and visual communication side of things. This would have never happened if I had stayed in Malta, although I do believe there are more opportunities for young Maltese artists these days. However, I still think one needs to go overseas at one point in time to get a better understanding of what’s out there.
You have been assigned work for brands such as Levis, HP, Channel 4 you name it, and have been at it for a good number of years now. How do you stay ahead of the game in your creations? It’s important to have your own agenda and your own fully formed world or language. This is what clients are after most of the time. I guess this means working at your drawing even in-between various projects. You want people to look at your work and go ‘oh that’s
