Running Around My Grandma’s House
How do childhood memories shape the way we see and interact with the world around us?
I often find myself reminiscing about running around at my grandmother's house as a child. No matter where you ventured within the home, you'd encounter a petite lion foot that seemed to engage you in conversation.
Each time I saw or passed one, I would let my imagination run wild and often reach out to see if it would move. The house was adorned with furniture from the Victorian era, characterized by dark, tall, varnished wood.
Each sculpture in this collection is inspired by functional objects such as those, that my grandparents cherished, and which were used for storing sweets, keys, and even forgotten treasures and trinkets from long ago.
The body of work, speaks to personal memories of myself and my relatives and is inspired by the activities we enjoyed during our time at our grandparents' house, including running through surrounding fields, playing hide and seek, harvesting, and uncovering all the little secrets hidden within the home.
Title : Two Peas
Date : 2024
Dimension : 72cm H x 58 cm W x 18 cm D
Title : Quirky
Date : 2024
Dimension : 15cm H x 40cm W
Title : Clumsy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 70cm H x 50cm W x 40cm D
Title : Drowsy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 10 cm H x 30cm W
Title : Lockbox
Date : 2024
Dimension : 34cm H x 35cm W
Title : Decker
Date : 2024
Dimension : 60 cm H x 50cm W x 50 cm D
Title : Chippy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 18 cm H x 21cm W x 12cm D
Title : Peppy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 70 cm H x 18cm W
Title : Steppy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 70 cm H x 18cm W
Title : Mini Decker
Date : 2024
Dimension : 25 cm H x 15cm W
Title : Sturdy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 65 cm H x 50cm W
Title : Bouncy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 50 cm H x 50cm W x 36 cm D
Title : Brassy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 36 cm H x 18cm W
Title : Sunny
Date : 2024
Dimension : 50 cm H x 50cm W x 36 cm D
Title : Snappy
Date : 2024
Dimension : 20cm H x 18cm W x 15cm D
I Grew Up On A Rock
"What makes a place feel like home?"
I spent my childhood on a rocky island surrounded by the sea, rocks, and prickly pears, always exploring the adventurous cliff edges. This collection of work captures moments that transport us to a place where we can reminisce about joyous times and value the present. It’s common for us to recall negative experiences more vividly than positive ones. Like rewinding an old movie, piecing together fragments of memories to weave a detailed story of my life. My work is for others to relate to these memories and feel a sense of connection, especially when they may feel isolated on their own island. Ultimately, this project celebrates the positive elements that turn a place into a true “Home.”
The body of work aims to assist migrants who feel disconnected and isolated, helping them find a sense of belonging. I'm creating a magical haven where people can drift away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and tune into a boundless realm of self-reflection and inner peace."
Title : Prickly rock
Date : 2024
Dimension : 190 cm H x 150cm W
Title: Pressure vessel
Date : 2024
Dimension : 30cm H x 17cm W
Title : Twin Relationship
Date: 2024
Dimension : 152 cm h x 40cm w
Title : Stone hut,
Date: 2024
Dimension : 30cm h x 40cm w
Title : The silence of isolation
Date: 2024
Dimension : 8 cm h x 15cm w
Title : Running toward the sea
Date : 2023
Dimension : 180cm H X 120cm W
Title : The edge of the cliff
Date : 2023
Dimension : 50cm H x150cm W
Reminiscing The Past
''When I was kid I remember running around my grandma house and always try to invent something new to do. Where ever you go in The house you always meet a petite lion foot talking to you and every time I walk past one I use to touch it to see if it is moving or not. The house was filled with furniture that was made during the victorian era : Dark, tall, varnished wood''
Exploring the Symbolism of Lion Paw Furniture from Europe's 16th-17th Century . Neal's European travels led him to discover exquisite furniture from the 16th-17th century that featured a beautiful relationship between humans and the species that influenced design during the colonization period. The pieces were adorned with lion paws at the bottom, which are not just decorative but also hold great symbolism. Lions were revered for their strength and majesty, but also for their controversial traits of pride and wrath. The lion paw furniture is a charming and meaningful representation of humanity's connection to the natural world.
Synergetic
To further enhance the meaning behind the artwork, Camilleri decided to incorporate the ant metaphor in a unique way. He carefully sculpted ceramic ants of different sizes to represent the diverse roles of healthcare workers - from doctors and nurses to administrative staff and cleaners. The ants were arranged in a circular formation to symbolize teamwork and the collective effort of the NHS community in fighting the pandemic.
In addition, Camilleri used a variety of glazes and textures to represent the different emotions experienced during the pandemic - from the somber tones of grief and loss to the brighter hues of hope and resilience. The finished artwork is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the hard work and sacrifice of NHS staff and their families during these unprecedented times.
Overall, Camilleri's commemorative artwork serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength and dedication of the NHS community during the COVID-19 pandemic. It represents the tireless efforts of healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy, and the gratitude we owe them for their service.
Embrace Differences
Design Transform Border
NYC Design week - 2022
Chosen work for the Design Transforms Borders With human rights activist organisations.
The Plates were sold to support Touching land at the Mexican border.
Eyepiece
During Camilleri's academic journey, he observed that a particular technique consistently featured in many of his projects. The journey commenced with a project that involved replicating the dry stone walls in his hometown of Malta using clay. This project, known as "Where in the world are you from?", marked a pivotal moment.
More recently, Neal had the chance to employ the same technique in the "Plate project" for @tomdixonstudio, incorporating biomorphic cells.
Emotional Resonance
Painting It Out
'' From my earliest memories, I have been captivated by moving images – the brush strokes, the interplay of raw materials, and the rich oil spreading across the surface. As I matured, I discovered my appreciation for beauty and realized that my mind is brimming with untold tales, despite struggling to articulate my emotions to others. The essence of my work lies in translating Emotional Resonance into symbols; it's about evoking a feeling rather than describing the artwork - 75 days.'' -
BLUE CLAY
For anyone interested in geology, exploring the Maltese Islands is a genuine pleasure. So even someone with no background in geological layers will at least be able to identify a wide range of interesting rocky structures. Malta's geological characteristics include towering cliff faces showing a variety of different rock layers that are visible even to the untrained eye, rolling hills of blue clay meandering into the sea, and caverns formed in limestone over centuries of weathering.
I returned to my hometown for a brief period of time in order to rekindle my relationship with my upbringing and my own cultural history in the context of the local clay. Growing up was a lot of fun, but it also made me think about my involvement in agriculture. The first thing I did I gather Local materials from a range of the places I had grown up and transform them into usable clay.
When you created your own materials from scratch and experienced the indescribable sense of processing local clay, you can appreciate it more. It is impossible to describe how you view things from a different viewpoint. Even while working with soft clay by hand, you can feel the vulnurbale enter your fingertips and squish it between your fingers.
