Norbert Francis Attard Explained

Norbert Francis Attard (born 4 October 1951 in Sliema, Malta) is a Maltese multi-disciplinary artist, art collector, gallerist and entrepreneur known for his varied approaches to artistic projects, multi-media works, installations and anthropological-based projects.[1]

Early years

Attard started as a self-taught painter and graphic artist before turning to installation art in 1998. He graduated in Architecture from the University of Malta in 1977, practicing the profession as architect for twenty years until 1996. He lived in Germany in 1978/1979 working with the firm ‘Licht in Raum’, directed by Johannes Dinnebier, one of Germany’s pioneers in light design.[2]

Works

Whilst practicing the profession of architect for twenty years until 1996, he designed prints, posters, postage stamps and other works. Among Norbert Attard's numerous and most noteworthy artistic works one finds a growing collection of posters designed for various theatres national associations embassies and cultural institutions. On the same lines he has also designed a number of book covers and eight issues of Maltese postage stamps.[3]

In 1998 he focused on installation art and has since then worked in various disciplines, merging expressions of architecture, sculpture, video and photography in different and various media. The relationship of his work to location and memory of site is crucial, as is his attempt to create a sense of balance and harmony through inter-relatedness of often contradictory themes and ideas.[4]

In 1999, he represented Malta in the 48th Venice Biennale.[5]

From 1998 to 2008 he created many site-specific installations in several countries and has participated in many collective international exhibitions in Scotland, England, Cuba, Austria, Italy, Spain, Germany, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Greece, South Korea, Australia, U.S.A., and Taiwan.

In 1999 he represented Malta at the 48th Venice Biennale, Italy.

Since 2001 he has been Director of GOZO Contemporary, an art space offering artist’s residencies on the island of Gozo.

Between 2002 and 2005 he was a Committee member of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

Valletta Contemporary

Attard is the founder of the Conceptual art gallery Valletta Contemporary. Opened in 2018, this gallery has established itself as one of the leading galleries in Malta offering space for exhibitions of a conceptual and contemporary nature. The gallery also curates VC Editions, a collection of artworks especially commissioned by the gallery by artists who have already exhibited at the venue.

Exhibitions

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Norbert Francis Attard. 2021-03-16. www.virtual-residency.net.
  2. Web site: NORBERT FRANCIS ATTARD Valletta Contemporary. 2021-03-16. VallettaContemporary. en.
  3. Web site: Malta - Postage stamps (1980 - 1989) - Page 4. 2021-03-16. www.stampworld.com.
  4. Web site: Norbert Francis Attard. 2021-03-16. www.virtual-residency.net.
  5. Web site: 'Malta's role as Mediterranean's cultural centre' picked for Venice Biennale. 2021-03-16. MaltaToday.com.mt. en.