ART4MCCF

TAINTED INNOCENCE

TAINTED INNOCENCE

RUBEN FORMOSA

Medium: Various clay bodies

Size: 40x25x16cm

Year: 2023

Artwork Description: The sculpture is portraying a female bust which was meant to be a study of an idyllic female face. While working on it, the artist felt that the result was not what he was aspiring for and in a moment of anger or disappointment, he threw a handful of black grogged clay towards the sculpture. It created an unexpected result that put the sculpture into a totally different dimension or perspective. The thrown clay becomes like a haphazard web of mud on the young female’s face in a beautiful contrast between the polished finish face and the rawness of the grogged clay. The work is a metaphor for the lost innocence of childhood - when the reality of life emerges, taking over, and the person becomes tainted with the surrounding life experiences.

€750

About

RUBEN FORMOSA

Ruben Formosa (b. 1971) is a Maltese artist hailing from Sliema. He is an interior designer by profession who has been delving into the world of art since a young age. A self-taught artist, trained in the classical tradition, he spent a number of years working for artist and marble sculptor Ronald Pisani. His primary interest is mainly in sculpture which he explores in various media. His works range from marble, wood, stone, clay, and more recently he started working in ceramics. His style varies from figurative and polished, to abstract and raw finish. His main inspiration comes from nature, movement, and the play of light and shadow. His studio and workshop are based in the quaint town of Siġġiewi. Ruben’s works can be found in private collections in Malta. He has participated in various collective exhibitions, and is currently preparing for a first solo exhibition.