Eater (Jiekol) Painting

Mark Schembri was born on April 25th 1977. He attended a four-year course at the Salvatore Dimech School for Arts and Crafts, Targa Gap, Mosta from 1993 to 1997 where he obtained a Distinction in Graphic Design. In 1995 he was awarded first prize in a Youth Service Organisation Art competition sponsored by Bank of Valletta. In February 1997 he attended an Art course at Kerteminde, Denmark. Since 1997 he has worked as a freelance Artist and Graphic Designer. Since then Mark has participated in numerous collective exhibitions and has held more than fifteen solo exhibitions. He has also been commissioned to do many works, some of which are displayed in public places. Two of these commissioned works can be viewed at the Mosta Parish Church and the Mgarr Parish Church. Mark is also a well established caricature artist and in 2014 he was entrusted by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts to design a set of Carnival floats depicting local politicians. Political satire had not been included in the local Carnival for over eighty years. He is also an established book illustrator. The artist’s style has evolved throughout his career. His resulting work depends on various factors such as life changes, various moods and an inquisitive, natural curiosity that compels him to delve into issues and discover new dimensions. Novel techniques and unfamiliar media stimulate his inspiration. However, Mark is mostly interested in Art as communication. His paintings are therefore for him not merely decorative items but documents that challenge and raise questions. Modern and age-old dilemmas related to the human condition are very much at the artist’s heart.