A RT
WORDS CHRISTINE CASSAR
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST JOSEPH CASHA
JOSEPH CASHA DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO ART. FROM PAINTINGS TO CERAMICS, WOODEN SCULPTURES AND MANY OTHER MASTERPIECES, HE SOUGHT TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED AND WELL-RESPECTED ARTISTS ON THE ISLAND. Although he is no longer with us, Casha leaves behind a legacy that
Besides working on his masterpieces, Casha taught art classes at
everyone who knew him is so proud to share, particularly his nearest
the School of Art, Valletta up until the last month of his life. As
and dearest. In celebration of both his recent 11th anniversary on
Alison continues to recall these wonderful memories, she told me
24th June and his birthday on 11th July, I sat down for a chat with
that his former students still praise him to this day. In fact, they
his youngest daughter, Alison Casha. I instantly became keen to
still tell her that he was the best teacher they’ve ever had, not just
discover more about the artist's life's work.
because he was talented but also for his gentlemanly approach and kindness.
Born in 1939, Casha spent his early months of life in Cospicua. Given that this was certainly not an easy time for families living in
Some of Alison’s fondest memories of her father date back to
those areas during the Second World War, Casha and his parents
when he used to spend hours on end in his home studio creating
eventually moved to Rabat. Following the move, Alison tells me that
sculptures. Little Alison used to be right at her father’s side,
he started experimenting with some pencil drawings when he was
awaiting pieces of clay he used to give her while he continued to
still attending school.
work. Besides being an extremely talented artist, Alison also recalls how much he loved gardening.
Fast-forward a couple of years, he found himself at the centre of some of the most prestigious schools of art both in Malta and
Whilst his work is widely varied, Alison explained that the 1990s
abroad. It all started with his foundation years spent at the School
and 2000s were a great source of inspiration to the artist. In
of Art Valletta until he jetted off to Rome. Between 1961 and 1964,
particular, the lands depicted in the books and films of Lord of the
he studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti, the Istituto Statale d’Arte
Rings and Harry Potter stood out to him. Although some artists
and the Scuola delle Arti Ornamentali.
tend to specialise in specific areas of art, Casha pretty much tried
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