Victor Agius

Victor Agius is a multi-disciplinary artist who works in sculpture, painting, video, performance, and installation. He graduated from the University of Malta in 2004 and then moved to Perugia, Italy, to continue his studies, followed by Central Saint Martins in London. Agius is co-founder of the Ars Vitae Ensemble and was a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. His works have been exhibited at the National Museum of Fine Arts and Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ġgantija temples, the Mdina Cathedral Museum, as well as in local and international galleries, including St Eufemia Gallery in Venice, the Lauba Gallery in Zagreb, Eduardo Secci Gallery in Florence, the Ceramic Context at Bornholm Art Museum in Denmark, and the Faenza Prize at the Museo Internazionale della Ceramica in Faenza.
Agius' practice embodies a direct affinity with the earth, as well as a continuous process of research into primitive rudiments and rituals, and humankind’s incessant rapport with nature, time, and existence. The reddish ochre colour that dominates most of Agius’ works bears the traces of actual ‘terrarossa’ (red earth) which he ritually collects from excavations and building sites across Gozo. Red ochre was also used in burial rituals in prehistoric Malta and as interior decoration inside temples and hypogaea. "Mother" highlights the sacred presence of matter whilst alluding to the primordial transcendence of mother earth and "In Pulverem Reverteris" documents a performance in which Agius used his own body, clay, ashes, fire and water at his family tomb in Gozo.