Sand Sculptures

Sand artist: Oscar Rodríguez Vila, photo by Igor Stančík

Locations

Valletta Campus Theatre VCT (Ex MITP)

Pretty Bay, Birżebbuġa

Dock No. 1, Cospicua

For the first time in Malta, the Malta International Arts Festival welcomes three international artists to create large-scale sand sculptures as part of its programme. Italian artist Michela Ciappini will realise a work in Birżebbuġa involving refugees and local communities, in collaboration with Dance Beyond Borders for Refugee Week. In Valletta, Spanish artist Oscar Rodriguez will create a sculpture that also serves as the set for a contemporary dance production in collaboration with Malta’s national dance company, ŻfinMalta. Belgian artist Enguerrand David will present a sculpture at the Dock 1 waterfront in Bormla, echoing the limestone architecture of this historic harbour site. All three sculptures explore the theme of Greek mythology. Visitors are invited to walk among these ephemeral works, experiencing the union of nature, craftsmanship and narrative as the gods, heroes and creatures of ancient Greece take form beneath the summer sun. Biographies

Michel Ciappini

Italian artist Michela Ciappini attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, specialising in stage design with a focus on applied arts for theatre. For many years, she worked in theatre, television and film productions, gaining extensive experience with materials such as polystyrene, wood, paint, clay, plaster, resin and concrete. In 2004, Ciappini began creating sand sculptures on beaches, exploring the possibilities of ephemeral materials. This artistic journey expanded to snow and ice sculpting in 2010. Since then, she has worked professionally as a sand and ice carver for numerous theme parks and events across Europe and beyond, including projects in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Colombia, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Russia and Switzerland. Among her accolades are the Sculptors’ Choice Award at the San Diego Sand Sculpting Challenge (2014) and First Prize in the Solo Ice Sculpture Competition Gelato d’Oro in Rimini (2019).

Jeroen van de Vlag

Jeroen van de Vlag began sculpting sand in 1991 during his college years and became a full-time sand sculptor in 1994. Until 2005, his work focused on designing, planning and leading large-scale sculptures and  events for a major Dutch sand and ice sculpting company. In 2006, following his move to Switzerland, he established his own company. While primarily dedicated to sand sculpture, his practice also encompasses ice and snow carving, pumpkin carving and, on occasion, straw sculpture. Over a career spanning more than 35 years, van de Vlag has participated in numerous world-record projects and international events. His portfolio includes work at major festivals such as the Søndervig Sand Sculpture Festival in Denmark, four appearances at the Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Festival in China - the largest of its kind globally, and the Busan Sand Festival in South Korea. His clients range from internationally recognised companies such as Leica Camera and Loeb Bern to shopping centres, amusement parks and palace gardens, with the majority of his commissions taking place across Europe.

Oscar Rodríguez Vila

Oscar Rodríguez Vila is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist driven by curiosity and creative exploration. As an interior designer, he has created spaces for a wide range of clients - from private and public institutions to theatre productions. His work often extends into public interventions, particularly within the political and symbolic landscapes of international borders. In his ongoing project Migratory Tides, he explores boundaries between the so-called first and third worlds, with installations at borders such as the USA - Mexico and Europe - Africa divides. For over two decades, Rodríguez Vila has devoted himself to ephemeral sculpture, working with sand, snow and ice in 34 countries across four continents. His desire to navigate multiple artistic languages has also led him to specialise in animation and documentary filmmaking. In collaboration with Birżebbuġa Local Council, Bormla Local Council & American University of Malta