“It all started with a simple idea – to design fresh high-quality Maltese-inspired prints.”
This is how Te fit-Tazza founders Andrew Farrugia and Craig Macdonald – two friends with a passion for design and all other things beautiful – describe the artistic project that they kicked off in 2015.
Working in the travel industry for the past five years, Andrew nurtured a deep appreciation for all the unnoticeable things and hidden gems our small island graced us with.
Malta, he believes, boasts a wealth of identity. It is found in how we act, how we interact and how we present ourselves both socially and visually. It can be said that a strong sense of tradition, pride and patriotism can be attributed to this abundance of distinction.
Our vision for the future is to have these prints showcased in beautiful spaces around the world highlighting the beauty of our island in a subtle and modern approach
“For our first series, our aim is to capture and document these attributes in the form of minimalist depictions. Taking away as much detail from our subjects as is possible, while keeping the subject instantly recognisable,” the two artists say.
“Our vision for the future is to have these prints showcased in beautiful spaces around the world highlighting the beauty of our island in a subtle and modern approach.”
The story behind the name is just as intriguing as the prints themselves, and the duo describes how, when looking for a name for this project, they both knew they wanted something unique to Malta but that was also fun enough to represent two passionate friends with a complementing sense of humour.
“We embarked on a mission to visit local landmarks for inspiration and it was at the Vilhena Band Club in Floriana that we got served two teas in a glass. We felt we had struck gold. What’s more local than a glass of tea paired with one or two pastizzi (cheesecakes)? The name felt right immediately, it’s fun, it’s unique, it’s Maltese and we simply loved it,” the two artists conclude.
The first Te fit-Tazza exhibition runs until August 31 at Palazzo Depiro, Mdina.