Q: What first inspired you to pursue a career in conservation and restoration?

A: I’ve always had a passion for art and always dreamed of pursuing this passion as a career. When I was young, all I wanted to do was paint and attend art lessons. However, at the time, there weren’t many opportunities so I studied to become a technician. Then the right opportunity came knocking 12 years ago – I left my full time job and read conservation and restoration at the University of Malta.

Today I have fulfilled my dream and consider myself privileged to be able to help preserve some of our priceless works of art for future generations.

Q: When did you found PrevArti and how did you build the team’s capacity over the years?

A: I founded PrevArti soon after I graduated in 2005. The name is a combination of ‘prev’, an abbreviation of ‘prevention’ and ‘preservation’, and ‘arti’, Maltese for ‘art’.

In 2006 I employed the first restorer and nowadays, PrevArt is made up of 10 qualified conservator-restorers. We offer restoration services on canvas and panel paintings, mural paintings, books and works of art on paper, polychromed sculptures, decorative frames, gilded objects and ceramics.

PrevArti has always believed in the continuous improvement of its materials and methods of restoration in order to provide a high quality restoration work and service. For this reason we have invested in latest technologies, materials, equipment and in a state of the art laboratory. Today PrevArti forms part of The Art Conservation Centre at the Mosta Technopark where it operates together with its sister company SalvArti, which provides ecological disinfestations (pest control) for art and antiques.

Q: Is your laboratory specifically designed and built for conservation and restoration?

A: PrevArti moved into its current laboratory in 2011 – this already existing 700sqm building has been carefully designed and transformed to fulfil the needs of a professional restoration laboratory.

The laboratory is divided into several areas so that the whole process of restoration follows a sequence from beginning to end. When a client brings in an object for restoration, he is directed to the investigation area, which is a private area segregated from all other works. Here the object is carefully inspected and its actual state of conservation is determined after it is investigated under normal and UV light. The object is then taken to another section where it is photographed, documented and later stored safely in a separate storage area for further scientific investigations or until the actual conservation and restoration can be initiated. If during the investigation an object is found to be infested by insects this will be immediately placed in the quarantine area until it is treated with one of our ecological disinfestation treatments.

The restoration laboratory is divided into sections according to the type of object being treated. The laboratory is equipped with special lighting for retouching, with movable aspirators to filter the air while using volatile solvents during the cleaning process and with a low pressure heated table for consolidation and relining. The lab also has two separate rooms for varnishing and drying areas equipped with a spraying system to achieve the highest quality finish. The object will again be photographed and placed safely for storage until delivery or collection.

Q: What have been the highlights in your portfolio?

A: One of our largest ongoing projects is the conservation and restoration of the wall paintings by Giuseppe Cali that adorn the ceiling of Lija parish church. Last year we concluded the restoration of the paintings in the dome and this year we will be concluding the paintings in the third bay of the church’s nave.

PrevArti has worked on other similar important projects also by the same artist at Balzan parish church and another 12 canvas paintings including the titular paintings at St Paul’s Bay parish church and St Lawrence parish church in Gozo. Other recent important restoration works on canvas paintings were the titular painting of the Capuchins church in Kalkara depicting the Martyrdom of St Barbara by Agostino Masucci and the titular painting of the Capuchins church in Victoria, Gozo depicting Our Lady of Divine Grace by Stefano Erardi.

PrevArti has been in the past entrusted with the restoration of the wall paintings at Villa Francia and also carried out restoration works within the Paladini Chapel in the Grandmaster’s Palace. In 2009-2010 it was entrusted with the restoration of over 100 paintings by Chev. Emvin Caruana Dingli for the preparation of his exhibition organised by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.

Q: Do you also organise workshops and lectures in your laboratory?

A: One of our aims is to continue to inform and educate the public about conservation and restoration. When we designed our laboratory, we specifically wanted to include a lecturing room for this purpose. Last year we organised our first course entitled Understanding Subject Matter in Art which was very successful. In the coming months we plan to have other similar courses and lectures.