CC MEET THE ARTIST
Exploring the language of art Artist and experimentalist Kane Cali is pushing his own limits, and those of Malta’s contemporary arts scene, one body of work at a time. He chats with Martina Said about his journey from 3D character animation to contemporary art, his family legacy, and applying his fascination with new technology into works of art that will stand the test of time.
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ontemporary artist Kane Cali’s work is complex to define, but less hard to recognise. Deconstructed busts cast in concrete and glass that are layered with meaning, sculptural glass works that unveil a painstaking attention to detail, and of course, Malta’s ‘cheap and cheerful’ beloved snack, pastizzi, turned into desirable pieces of art. His multi-disciplinary approach to his art makes his works as extraordinary as the processes he employs to create them, placing Kane in a distinctive league of his own. I catch up with the artist at a time when a lot is uncertain – Malta is in post-pandemic recovery mode, and life is gradually returning to a new kind of normal, with a lot left hanging in the balance, particularly for artists. But every trial is an opportunity for Kane to explore – the lockdown period alone proved to be an introspective yet productive
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time for him, during which he created a small body of work using a growth simulator designed to grow virtual plants – but more on that later. “Life and the process of living it, feeds into all my work,” says Kane, moulded by the perspectives, tools and people he met along the way, all of which shaped his unique skillset. As the great-great grandson of venerated artist Giuseppe Cali, art is an inherent part of him and his family. “From a young age, learning that my great-great grandfather, and many other members of the family, had an artistic side to them and an artistic career – beyond Giuseppe Cali, there were also his uncles, namely Romero Cali, who had quite a journey in their own right – shaped my sense of identity.” Early on after finishing secondary school, Kane pursued what interested him, and spent
two years studying at MCAST, which had just opened its doors, to explore his curiosities. “At that time, I started looking at courses abroad as I wanted to pursue more focused studies, and that was quite a leap,” he states. “We had just entered the EU so college fees were more affordable, and it seemed like a viable option, in a naïve kind of way,” he laughs. “I don’t think I’d take the plunge now as I did back then, but I have no regrets – mistakes were made along the way, but they were necessary.” Kane enrolled for a degree in 3D character animation in the UK, which gave him the backbone and confidence with computer software and 3D packages – crucial skills for his work later on. After two years, craving a tangible element to his creativity beyond a keyboard, he changed course and attended the University for the Creative Arts for JULY/AUGUST 2020