Dr Louis Laganà is a lecturer in Systems of Knowledge at the Junior College, and also lectures Art History (Cultural Identity), Methodology application in Art Education at the Faculty of Education, Department of Arts and Languages, University of Malta.

Dr Laganà specializes in different aspects of Modern Art, with particular focus on Jungian Aesthetics and contemporary theories of Primitivism. He is interested in theoretical applications particularly psychoanalysis and various aspects of art criticism and theory, the art of ancient cultures, especially the Prehistoric period and how it was influential in Modern art.

EDUCATION

PhD in Art History, Loughborough University School of Art and Design, Loughborough, England, 2000 – 2005. Thesis Title: Prehistoric Malta and Contemporary Art.

Diploma in Fine Art, Academia di Belle Arti, Pietro Vannucci, Perugia, Italy, 1972.

TEACHING

Dr Laganà started his teaching career at De la Salle College, Cottonera, Malta, in 1972. He first was assigned to teach Art at Primary level from 1972-1987, and later at Secondary and sixth form levels from 1987-1995.

In 1995 he joined the University of Malta, Junior College, where he lectures in Systems of Knowledge. In 2005 he was appointed lecturer by the University Council. He served as Area and Subject coordinator in Systems of Knowledge, Art and Music from 2003-2007.

MEMBERSHIP

Dr Laganà is a member of the American Society for Aesthetics, USA (1997-), Association of Art Historians, London, U.K (2001-) and the Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society, Malta (2004-). Lately he was appointed a member of the editorial board of the Scientific Journals International (www.scientificjournals.org). He is also member of the Dissertations Board, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, (2006-) and member of the Discussion Group for Psychology and the Arts: PSYART@LISTS.UFL.EDU (2006-).

ACADEMIC RESEARCH INTEREST

•      Modern and Contemporary Art History with particular focus on Jungian Aesthetics and contemporary theories of Primitivism.

•      Theoretical applications particularly psychoanalysis and different aspects of art criticism and theory.

•      The art of ancient cultures, especially the Prehistoric period and how it was influential in Modern Art.

•      20^th Century Art.

•      Methodology application in Art Education - Cultural identity.

•       Outsider Art.

RECENT CONFERENCES

Mental Health and Art, 12 July 2001, Hall Place, Bexley, England, organised by Pavilion.

Articulations, 29^th Annual Conference and Book Fair: 10 –13 April 2003, University of London, England, organised by the Association of Art Historians.

Old/New? 30^th Annual Conference and Book Fair: 1-3 April 2004, Nottingham University, England, organised by the Association of Art Historians.

Visualising Paradise: The Mediterranean, 13 – 15 September 2004, Centre for Mediterranean Studies & AHRB Centre (Cultural Analysis, Theory and History) Leeds University, Leeds, England. Title of paper: The Maltese Prehistoric Goddess and Contemporary Art.

Summer School Conference, 7-8 July 2005, organised by the Association of Art Historians, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, England. Titel of paper: Prehistoric Malta and Contemporary Art.

Rethinking the Past: Experimental Histories in the Arts, 28-29 July 2006, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

XVII International Congress of Aesthetics, ‘Aesthetics Bridging Cultures’, 9-13 July 2007, Middle Easter University of Technology, Ankara, Turkey. Title of paper: Jungian Aesthetics - A Reconsideration.

Metageum 2007, Exploring the Megalithis Mind: Exploring the Consciousness of the Megalithic Temple Builders, 3-11 November 2007, Caraffa Stores, Vittoriosa Waterfront, Birgu, Malta. Title of paper: Goddess Worship in Prehistory in Malta: A Mother Goddess or another Deity?

PUBLICATIONS

Systems of Knowledge: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Edits., Louis Laganà and Louis J. Scerri, 2006, published by Agenda, Malta.

Three essays - Values in Art and Painting, Giordmaina, Joseph, Louis J. Scerri, Edits., Systems of Knowledge – A Guide, 1995.

Articles on Radio "Voice of the Mediterranean" newsletter. e.g. Christmas in Maltese Art - December 1996; Maltese Contemporary Art - August 1997; Mattia Preti - January 1999.

M.U.T. Educational Journal in Maltese and English -  "Saghtar" Series of articles about "The Story of Jazz". - 1996 –1999.

Article Artists motivated by community spirit on 'Currents' - AN Publications (Artists’ Newsletter) magazine, Sunderland, England, June issue, 1998. 

Valletta Festival Brochure, Works by Mattia Preti in Valletta, issued by the National Tourism Organisation, Malta, 1999.

Dennis Calleja an ‘Outsider Artist’, in Arts and Craft, Cookery and Food review, Malta, p.27, December - January 2002.

Memento: Life and Death as an Element of Transformation, Art Exhibition by Monika Gödecke, Ursula Heyen, Wolfgang Jeske and Kayenta Kieckbusch, at the German-Maltese Circle, Valletta, Malta. May 2003, Sunday Times of Malta.

Mediterranean Nostalgia, Exhibition brochure, Art Exhibition by Joanne Mifsud Pikutzki, 2004.

 The Art of Ceramics, collective exhibition brochure, The Second Malta-Cyprus Ceramics Exhibition, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Valletta, 2007/08.

Art Critic:

Various articles in the Weekender – Daily Times of Malta and Sunday Times, (1993-)

Contact:

Room 246, University of Malta, Junior College,

Msida, Malta, MSD 06.

Office Tel: +356 25907302

Home Tel: +356 21801833

Mobile: +356 79265356

Email:louis.lagana@um.edu.mt