Michael Sandle

The London artist who created the Malta Siege Bell Memorial in Valletta is exhibiting his works at The Drawing Gallery. Michael Sandle, one of Europe’s most original artists of the past fifty years has received numerous international awards. Inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II, thirteen years ago, the Siege Bell Memorial commemorates the dead of World War II. The bell rings daily at noon. From ArtDaily:

Reflecting upon the significance of drawing within his broad practice Sandle wrote recently: ‘I do not think of myself as being primarily a sculptor. I think of myself as being simply a visual artist. Drawing – and I include watercolour painting here – and printmaking – are as important to me as sculpture. I trawl my so-called ‘sub-consciousness’ or imagination for ideas and images. Drawing is for me the main method of fixing and developing these ideas and images, which may or may not be carried through into sculpture. My approach is not necessarily analytical, some things I just have to do because of neurotically obsessional or emotional involvement, but I do also often say to myself, quite objectively, “What would happen if I do this?” and try out many variations of an idea in my sketchbooks. It will be fairly obvious that my choice of subject matter does not reflect a particularly optimistic outlook; the human condition in my view is essentially tragic. This is perhaps why I have always been extraordinarily moved by the First World War.’

Too many memorials: 'Britain's ever-growing number of World War II memorials are marked more by vanity and kitsch than dignity and restraint—unlike the monuments built after the Great War'