Damian Ebejer

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Damian Ebejer

Damian Ebejer (born 1961) is a Maltese painter, son of playwright Francis Ebejer.


Early Career

Born in Somerset, England, Damian Ebejer is a self-taught artist living and working in Malta. He was considered a late starter when he appeared on the local art scene with his first solo exhibition held in 1994 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. In 2001 he left his career in the hotel industry to be able to dedicate time exclusively to his art. Since that date his output has been prolific; he has worked toward and organized eleven solo exhibitions and has taken part in several group collectives; among which one held at the Belgravia Gallery, London in December 2014.


Abstract Art

A major turning point in Damian’s artistic trajectory was his A Tale of Consequent Parallels exhibition in 2007 at the Gallery G, Lija, Malta where he displayed his first ever collection of abstract works. It is in this genre that he has continued to develop his techniques and discover new ways to explore and delve into his inspirations and innermost feelings. His works, often shifting from the dexterous to the self-assessing to the outright spontaneous, leave an impression which is distinguishably his own. Ebejer often addresses themes reflecting the human condition and hidden memories that wait silently within the subconscious. In 2013, his 10th exhibition The Passage of Memory captured his artistic journey over the previous twenty years.


Mural Paintings

Damian’s versatile artistic repertoire also leads him to further his interest in mural painting. In between working on new collections and artistic projects he has been commissioned to design and paint numerous murals and ceilings in neo-classical, baroque and naïve, early medieval styles. These can be found in palaces and museums around Malta namely, Palazzo de Piro Mdina, Palazzo Parisio Valletta, Palazzo Falson Mdina, Palazzo Olivier Balzan, Palazzo Marina Valletta, San Anard grotto chapel Lunzjata Rabat, the Carmelite Priory Mdina and Casa Rocca Piccola Valletta, besides private residences in Malta, Italy, England and Ireland. He looks upon these as “disciplinary work variants…”.


Poetry

Ebejer is also a writer of poetry and has published two books of selected poems; Talks with Silent Portraits (1983) and The Divide of Silence (2011). His poetry weaves together an impulsive, image driven sensibility and clearly shows that everything affords a moment’s inspiration. “…Ebejer reveals an integral human need to find the stuff of spectacle and wonder in the most humdrum realities of our lives…” (Farrugia, 2011).

In 2015, he was designated as European Ambassador of the World Citizen Artists (WCA) which is an international non-profit organization working to promote Peace and global awareness through creativity.


Solo Exhibitions

  • 2014 June - Magdalene’s Tangerine’ at The Cliffs, Dingli Cliffs.
  • 2013 Dec - ‘The Passage of Memory’ at The Priory, Mdina.
  • 2013 Oct - ‘The Spirit of Colour’ at Vascas, Naxxar.
  • 2011 Dec - ‘Never Mind The Dust’ at Villa madama, Attard.
  • 2007 Jun - ‘The Tale of Consequent Parallels’ at Gallery G, Lija.
  • 2006 Apr - ‘Ebejer Exhibition’ at Last Touch Gallery, Mosta.
  • 2002 Jul - ‘Strange Brew’ at Le Meridien Phoenicia, Floriana.
  • 1997 Jun - ‘Impressions’ at Le Meridien Phoenicia, Floriana.
  • 1997 Mar - ‘Refresh’ at La Stampa Restaurant, Sliema.
  • 1996 Mar - ‘Recent Paintings’ at the MFA, Valletta.
  • 1994 May - ‘Paintings’ at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.

Collective Exhibitions

1994 Nov - Din l-Art Helwa, Villa Arrigo, Naxxar.

1995 Nov - Din l-Art Helwa, Villa Arrigo, Naxxar.

1996 May - ‘Contemporary Christian Art in Malta’, Cathedral Museum, Mdina.

2002 Aug - ‘Iljieli Mediterranji’, Old Opera House, Valletta.

2003 Mar - ‘Crossroads’, Naxxar.

2003 Aug - ‘Unita’, St. Anne Parish, Marsascala.

2006 Jun - ‘In Vinculis’, St.Peter’s Social Club, B’Bugia.

2006 Nov - 5th National Arts Exhibition, Naxxar. Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

2007 May - ‘Contemporary Christian Art’, Cathedral Museum, Mdina.

2007 Jul - 6TH National Arts Exhibition, Naxxar. Malta Societry of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce. Winner of Consolation Prize.

2008 Jan - ‘The Man and the Critic’. Tribute to Chev. Emmanuel Fiorentino, Last Touch Gallery, Mosta.

2008 Feb - Green Core Exhibition, Melita Gardens. Attard.

2008 May - Silver Palette Competition & Exhibition, Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, Valletta. Honorable Mention Certificate.

2008 Oct - 7th National Arts Exhibition, Palazzo de la Salle, Valletta.

2009 Nov - ‘Collaboration in Art’. One of eight local artists who contributed live art-painting in public at the Malta Society of Commerce and Arts. Proceeds donated to the Malta Hospice.

2010 Feb - Silver Palette Competition & Exhibition, MSA. Valletta.

2014 Dec - World Citizen Artists (runner-up finalist) at the Belgravia Gallery, London.

2015 Nov to 2016 Jan - The Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale with painting Out of Nothing.

2015 Dec - Caravan arts (US/Eygpt) One of the 21 life size Mediterranean Peace Donkeys (Boxxla) during the Mdina Biennale.

2016 Jan – Feb - Follow-up tour of the Mediterranean Peace Donkeys (Boxxla) at the Ta’ Pinu Peace Centre, Gozo.

2016 Jan - Japanese & Maltese Impressions Collective held at the Cavalieri Art Hotel with 2 paintings; Alphabet of Desire and Stillness of the Cliffs.


Notable Commissions

Palazzo Marina, Valletta. 1995. Three ceilings and staircase. Two designed and created by Damian Ebejer and the other restored. Major restoration. All with Baroque and neo-classical Italian motifs.


Casa Navarra, Wardija. 1997. Private Chapel redecoration and altar with Rococo insert painting.


Sala, Parish Hall, Rabat, Gozo. 2000. Decoration with floral motifs and scroll work and faux marbling of dado.


Casa Rocca Piccola, Valletta. 2002. Designed and painted the ceiling of the Private Chapel, producing a trompe d’oeil of a dome, including lower lever architectural structures.


Palazzo Falson (Norman House), Mdina. 2003 – 2006. Restoration of friezes in three rooms, (dining, drawing and reception rooms). Designed and painted a fourth frieze for the master bed-room. Designed and painted Chapel ceiling (elaborate ceiling rose with surround) and walls. Faux 12th century niche depicting St. Agatha. Trompe d’oeil of artist’s open wardrobe filled with artist’s materials and other bric-a-brac in studio. 16 coat-of-arms shields. Faux effects for fire-places and other stone work structures. Restoration of Dutch Delft tiles (paint work) surrounding huge oven in the main kitchen.


Palazzo Olivier, Balzan. 2006. Creation and decoration of entire ten ceiling panels (between beams) in the upper Sala Grande. Monochrome paint work.


Palazzo Parisio, Valletta. 2006. Restoration of entire surrounding frieze, marbled archway and dado designs, including ante chamber where Emperor Napoleon is reputed to have slept.

Casa Suban, Cottonera. 2007/2008 Trompe l'oeil hallway arch, balustrades up the main stairway, columns and background landscape. Includes wall fountain halfway up the stairs. All structure depicted in faux marble. Also added various requested details.


Palazzo de Piro, Mdina. 2008/2009 Reproduction of various indistinguishable motifs painted on the ceilings. Two main rooms both including extensive artwork on the barrel vaulted arches.


St.Paul’s , Rabat Paris Church. 2008/2009 Restoration and marbling of wall pillars, flutes columns and column base cornice. 2011, Marbling of both side church walls.


Palazzo Bosia, Balzan. 2009 / 2010 In one room, the creation and hand-painting of Italian Neo-Classical designs on 20 ft beams (12 in all) for the Sala Grande. In the other room, the creation and hand-painting of a florette panelled ceiling (68 panels in all).


Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, 2013. Casino Maltese, Valletta. Faux effects for two rooms (transformed into two 150 year old jewelry workshops (Bottegini) at the mega-exhibition ‘Vanity, Profanity and Worship’.


Carmelite Grotto Chapel, dedicated to Saint Leonard, 2013. Lunzjata, limits of Rabat, Malta. Design and painting of a fresco secco, in the 11th Century manner, depicting the Virgin of Tenderness (La Bruna), Saint Leonard and a Byzantinesque cross set within a gemmed medallion. Includes early Christian art motifs painted onto the arch over the altar.


Palazzo de Vilhema ,2014. Valletta. New offices and headquarters of the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti Ten by five foot alcove trompe l’oeil including a four foot ornate urn with pedestal.


Press and Media: articles and features

ARTI MILL-PAJSAGG. May 1994, It-Torca by Adrian Stivala, with 1 pic. Wardija.

BAPTISM OF FIRE. May 1994, Sunday Times by E.Fiorentino, with 1 pic. Vines.

Preview, March 1996, Times of Malta, with 1 pic. Last Spanish Night.

PAINTING POSSIBILITIES. March 1996, Sunday Times by E.Fiorentino, with 1 pic. Geranium in Pot with Oranges.

FLIRTING WITH ART. March1996, Malta Independent on Sunday by Raphael Vella, with 1 pic. Jesus is Tired.

TALENT. April 1996, Suncrestians Newsletter by Gaetano Crisrina.

WIRJIET RICENTI. May 1996, It-Torca by Adrian Stivala.

PAINTED MOODS AT THE PHOENICIA. June 1997, Sunday Times by E. Fiorentino, with 1 pic. Salt Pans of the Mediterranean.

DAMIAN EBEJER AT THE PHOENICIA. June 1997, Malta Independent on Sunday by Raphael Vella, with 1 pic. Time Plays Games.

IC-CELEBRAZZJONI VIZIVA DAMIAN EBEJER. June 1997, L-Orizzont by Adrian Stivala.

THE NEW MALATA. November 1997, People on Sunday by Ross Baxter.

STARING AT THE CEILING. August 2000, Sunday Times, full page of Cover Supplement by Joanna Ripard, with 2 pics. Ceiling detail at Palazzo Marina, Valletta.

Preview of SOLO EXHIBITION ‘STRANGE BREW’ July 2002, Sunday Times with portrait photo.

STRANGE BREW, WIRJA TA’ PITTURA RICCENTI. July 2002, L-Orizzont by George Gleville, with 2 pics. Stillness Before The Storm and Quiet Temptation.

ONE CONCOCTION AND ONE REJECTION. July 2002, Sunday Times by E. Fiorentino, with 1 pic. Forever Primitive.

DAMIAN EBEJER EXHIBITION AT THE PHOENICIA. July 2002, Malta Independent On Sunday by Josanne Cassar, with 1 pic. Cleopatra’s Dream.

DAMIAN EBEJER SMILES ON A SURREALIST APPLE. August 2002, Maltastar.com by Narcy Calamatta, with 2 pics. Quiet Temptation and Forever Primitive.

DAMIAN EBEJER’S CLEOPATRA. August 2002, Maltastar.com by Narcy Calamatta, with 1 pic. Cleopatra’ Dream.

HISTORICAL HOUSES. October 2002, Times Weekender Suppliment by Anna Briffa, featuring Casa Rocca Piccola.

CROSSROADS. March 2003, Malta Today, with group (of artists involved in collective show) photo.

PROFOUND EXPRESSIONS.August 2003, Where Malta Magazine by William Galea, with 4 pics. Late Spring, Forever Primitive, Torso and Quiet Temptation. Front cover featured full page pic. of Heavenbound.

POETRY CONTEST WINNERS. November 2003, Sunday Times. (winner of 1st Prize for English poetry section from national competition.).

CELEBRATING WALLS AND CEILINGS. Winter Issue 2005, Flair Magazine (Malta Independent on Sunday) by Daphne Caruana Galizia, with 25 pics. depicting mural and ceiling artworks and 1 pic. of self.

HERITAGE SIGHT. April 2006, Grip Magazine (Malta International Airport)by Stanley Borg, regarding restoration works undergoing at the Palazzo Falson (Norman House), with 1 pic. of self at work on Chapel fresco.

PHOTOGRAPH of the Private Chapel (with hand-painted ceiling designed by Damian Ebejer at Palazzo Falzon). July 2006, The Times.

SIX INCHES OFF THE GROUND, August 2006, Grip Magazine (Malta International Airport). Damian Ebejer talks to Stanley Borg about his father, Francis Ebejer.

MURAL, MURAL ON THE WALL, November 2006, The Times Weekender by Stanley Borg…asks Damian Ebejer which is the fairest of his murals at Palazzo Falzon. With 1 pic.

RUX GALLERY- AN INVITING PLACE FOR BROWSING, April 2007, The Sunday Times by E. Fiorentino, an article about Damian Ebejer’s art gallery in Balzan.

AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY DAMIAN EBEJER, June2007, The Malta Independent on Sunday, with 8 pics.( concerning Damian Ebejer’s exhibition at Gallery G, Lija, THE TALE OF CONSEQUENT PARALLELS.

A BRUSH WITH FAME, June 2007, “Damian Ebejer, painter and poet, talks to Tanja Cilia.”, The Sunday Times with 1 pic. of the artist.

DAMIAN EBEJER…CHARGING UP THE LADDER, June 2007, The Sunday Times by E. Fiorentino, with 1 pic. The Fall of Lucifer. Analysis about Damian Ebejer’s latest exhibition THE TALE OF CONSEQUENT PARALLELS.

FRIEZES AND CEILINGS…Damian Ebejer is a skilled craftsman who restored the paintings on the walls and ceilings at Palazzo Falzon and created new ones. Spring 2007, Flair Magazine, Souvenir Edition, with 8 pics.

HONOURABLE MENTION (SILVER PALETTE NATIONAL COMPETITION 2008) as featured in the ‘Focus Newsletter’ published by the Malta Society of Arts.

EIGHT COLLABORATE, November 2009, The Times. Marathon interpainting between eight artists. All proceeds of charity (Malta Hospice).

EVERYTHING AFFORDS A MOMENT’S INSPIRATION, November 2011, The Sunday Times by Peter Farrugia. Review for Damian Ebejer’s book of poems entitled ‘The Divide Of Silence’, 115pp. Midsea Books Ltd. “Ebejer’s exuberance and love for life shine through this collection…”

A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION BY DAMIAN EBEJER, November 2011, The Times. Preview to the “Never Mind The Dust” exhibition.

‘NEVER MIND THE DUST’-retrospective exhibition by DAMIAN EBEJER. November 2011, The Malta Independent with 3 pics.; Black Dawn, Birth of a Seed and Bottle Talk.

WIRJA RETROSPETTIVA TA’ DAMIAN EBEJER, November 2011, L-Orizzont with 1 pic. Life is Fagile.

RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION BY DAMIAN EBEJER, November 2011, Josanne Cassar Interviewing malta with 8 pics.; Cleopatra’s Dream, Birth of a Seed, Autumn Fields No.1, Beach Alone, Coral Reef with Long Fish, Black Dawn, Bottle Talk and Connections.

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT CALANDER, November 2011, The Sunday Times

WIRJA TA’ PITTURA TA’ DAMIAN EBEJER, December 2011, Il-Kullhadd with 2 pics.; Black Dawn and The Wandering Spirit.

A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION BY DAMIAN EBEJER, December 2011 , The Malta Business Weekly with 1 pic.; Autumn Fields No.2.

DAMIAN EBEJER- A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION 17 YEARS IN THE MAKING, December 2011, The Malta Independent on Sunday with 4 pics.; Ecstasy of St. Theresa, The Wandering Spirit, The Breaking of Calypso’s Spell and Nature of Thought.

UNIQUE PAINTINGS BY Francis Ebejer and his son Damian under one roof in Naxxar, October 2013, THE SPIRIT OF COLOUR exhibition, L-Orrizont (Sunday) by Joseph Farrugia with 5 pics; History chasing its’ Own Tail (FE), Vanishing World (FE), Maltese Madonna (FE), Last Judgement (DE), Winter Blues (DE).

PAINTING BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT, December 2013, The Sunday Times by Peter Farrugia with 4 pics; Last Judgement, Even Fossils keep their Identity, Winter Blues and portrait pic.

METAPHORICAL LANDSCAPES, evoking the soul of Malta’s landscapes, June 2014, The Sunday Times by P. Farrugia with 4 pics; Pathway to the End, Beneath the Edge, Birth of a Seed and Me, you…and Them.

EBEJER PAINTING AT THE BELGRAVIA GALLERY, LONDON, January 2015, Marie Benoit cultural diary, Malta Independent on Sunday, feature, with 3 pics; The Fragility of Peace, Belgravia Gallery front, group, with painting; the artist together with Ms. Laura Walford (gallery director) and Mr. Prakash Ben Joshi (World Citizen Artist director of ethics.


Others

COLLECTION OF POEMS published in a book entitled “TALKS WITH SILENT PORTRAITS”, 1983. The book includes 22 poems and has an introduction by Rose Lapira.

THE INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY OF ARTISTS WHO PAINTED MALTA. 2002, De Agostini. Featured with photograph of Damian Ebejer’s painting Salt Pans of the Mediterranean.

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ART IN MALTA. 1996. Featured with current c.v. and pic. The Grotto…Devotion or Tradition.

WINNER 1st PRIZE POETRY IN ENGLISH 2003- Ghaqda Poeti Maltin - National Competition, with the poem ‘Child Warrior’.

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ART IN MALTA..2006. Featured with ongoing CV and pic. Spilt wine at the Last Supper.

GLORIOUS GOZO. 2007. Regarding collective exhibition at Malta Hilton, with 1 pic. Gozitana . (Donated to the Don Bosco Institute).

CONSOLATION PRIZE (SILVER PALETTE NATIONAL COMPETITION 2010)

INTERVIEW FOR TVM CHANNEL, Arti Madwarna 22 Feb 2011. Interview on site of restoration project at Zebbug, Malta with Emmanuel Mallia. (10 mins.).

‘THE DIVIDE OF SILENCE’ a book of selected poems written by Damian Ebejer. Published by Midsea Publishers Ltd., Malta. 2011. 115pp.

Featured on the official World Citizen Artist’s finalist exhibition video during the launch at the Belgravia Gallery, London and on the www. worldcitizenartist.com site.

TVM latest interviews to date, January 2014 regarding Ebejer’s solo exhibition The Passage of Memory held at the Carmelite Priory, Mdina, Malta and The Spirit of Colour (October 2013) at Vascas, Naxxar, Malta.

Damian Ebejer was interviewed to talk about his work in several episodes of Malta’s TVM cultural programs. These features covered the following exhibitions: Never Mind the Dust (Dec 2011), The Tale of Consequent Parallels (June 2007), Ebejer Exhibition (April 2006), Strange Brew (July 2002), The Damian Ebejer Exhibition (June 1997) and Recent Paintings (March 1996).

He has also been filmed working on site producing hand painted ceilings and murals for the above mentioned TVM production and others.

In May 2007 TVM produced a program featuring the RUX ART GALLERY at Balzan (Malta) which was an art gallery venue opened by Damian Ebejer to exhibit his and other artists’ works to the public.

1996, local TV, interview regarding Damian Ebejer’s preparations for his upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.

1995, TVM interview on site at Palazzo Marina, Valletta, regarding the ceiling painting and restoration Ebejer was carrying out at the location.

Artist's note

“My art is a constant discovery of myself. It is the place I go to. I am not terribly interested in portraying the reality I see outside of myself; I search for a collective beauty. entangled with the ugly and chaotic in order to compose an unconscious recognition of fascinating order.”


See also

Category:Damian Ebejer Photos

Category:Damian Ebejer Press Cuttings

Category:Damian Ebejer Event Posters & Flyers