Elisa von Brockdorff
b.1982, Malta

BIO

Elisa von Brockdorff is a freelance photographer and a visual artist who works mainly in photography and installation art. In 2009, she received a Masters Degree in Fine Art from the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury (Kent) in England, where she specialized in both photography and installation art. Prior to this, she also obtained an Hons. Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Art and Design. She has participated in shows locally, as well as in England and Luxembourg.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My art seeks to capture my fasination for both photography and the ‘staged’ world. I enjoy setting up ‘scenes’ often constructed by using familiar and mundane objects, carefully staged within a particlar space. At times playful, at times hinting at irony or humor, one of my main intents is to challenge the objects’ conventional function, by presenting it within a different context.

This also applies to my fashion shoots, where the model, together with the different elements such as make up, hair, attire, background and props, come together in order to create a staged ‘scene’.

In both cases, the object interventions as well as the fashion shoot are then documented through the process of photography which keeps the work alive and acts as a testimony to a scene that will soon seize to exist once the photograph has been shot.


Education

2007-2009	MA Fine Arts (International Practice) University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, Kent, England
2004-2006	Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art & Design MCAST, Art and Design Institute, Mosta, Malta
2000-2004	Hons. Degree in Psychology University of Malta

Clients

St.James Cavalier, Centre of Creativity
MCCA (Malta Council for Culture and the Arts)
Manic Magazine
Benetton
Sisley
Piccinino
Debenhams
Heritage Malta
Phase Magazine
Café ID, Sliema
Il-Pjazza Magazine
ELSA (European Law Student Association)
Homeworks Magazine
Architect Daniel Scerri
University of Malta
Agenzija Zghazagh
Contenthouse (National Environment Policy Paper)

Group Shows

May 2011	Lily Agius Gallery, Sliema, Malta
May 2011	Valletta Photography Festival, Auberge d’Italie, Valletta, Malta
May 2011	Fashion week, The Point, Tigne, Malta
Aug 2010	His Chair, St.James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta
June 2010	Relocation, BOV Head Office. Santa Venera, Malta
May 2010	State of Creation (Culture Inside), Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg
Feb 2010	Deception, Lascaris Wharf, Valletta, Malta
Jan 2010	A New Generation, Malta Contemporary Art, Valletta, Malta
Nov 2009	Digital Arts Expo, Paceville, Malta
Sept 2009	MA Show, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, Kent, Uk
April 2009	Square, No 68, Valletta, Malta
Dec 2008	Eight Eighteen, MCA ( Malta Contemporary Art), Marsa, Malta
July 2008	Mile of Paper, Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta
June 2008	Digital Arts Expo, Hilton, Malta
May 2008	Earth Garden Festival, Ta Qali, Malta
May 2007	The Search for a Space, Valletta, Malta
June 2006	MCAST Art and Design Diploma Show, St.James Cavalier, Valletta

Selected publications

2010	C. Vella, “Of stamps. Chairs and cities”, Review, The Times of Malta, Allied Newspaper, Malta, 17 October, p.41 Featured photograph, “And they lived happily ever after”, Manic, The Malta Independent, Standard Publications, 6 September, p.54 C.Vella, “Seeking new perspectives”, Review, The Times of Malta, Allied Newspaper, Malta, 4 July, p.39 L.G. Baldacchino, ”Prospectives Please”, Review, The Times of Malta, Allied Newspaper, Malta, 10 June, p.25 L. Agius, “Sketched Expectations”, Interview, The Malta Independent, Standard Publications, Malta, 4 April, p.10 L.G. Baldacchino, ”Cos Shakespeare said it best”, Review, The Times of Malta, Allied Newspaper, Malta, 25 February, p.37 Featured photograph, “From Cot till Coffin”, Manic, The Malta Independent, Standard Publications, 14 February, p.23 Featured photograph, detail from installation “To Squeeze or not to Squeeze”, Malta Today, 7 February, p.25 C. Said, “A Touch of Colour”, Interview with The Insiter, The Student Media Organisation, February 2010, p. 20 & 21 L.G. Baldacchino, ”Conversion to Conversation”, Review, The Times of Malta, Allied Newspaper, Malta, 21 January, p.20
2009	MA UCA Show, catalogue published by University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury. England
2008	Cross-Currents: critical essays on art and culture in Malta, Allied Publications (chapter 4 pp 181, 230 - 234 by John Baldacchino)