So, who is Nik?

“I’m Nik Keter, currently nineteen; tentatively Maltese – I’m nonbinary, a self-taught artist and a yogi from the womb. I have been privileged enough to spend these past two years out of school developing myself; and I can proudly say I have turned my life around – from a miserable, self-harming teen to a self-driven young adult – through the inclusion of ritual and yoga in my life, and finally, through engaging with the Divine Mother,” they explained.

They speak of how they have always been concerned with the lack of representation of feminine power, particularly in being raised in a Christian dominated country like Malta.

“So much so that at a tender age I refused to do the sign of the cross; instead choosing to raise my left hand and sign: in the Name of the Mother, and of the Daughter, and of the Holy Spirit.”

This also inspired the title of their first solo exhibition, held last August, titled ‘In the name of the Mother… and of the Daughter’. 

“As such, my life and work is dedicated to bringing the spirit of the Divine Mother; free of the patriarchal lens, to the people around me.”

How did their journey as an artist start?

“At the tender age of one, at my quċċija – my parents recount to me that I grabbed at multiple items, but eventually settled on a rosary, coloured pencils and a book, which I promptly began to scribble upon the pages with,” they said. 

“Guess that very heavily foreshadowed what was to come! I truly believe some of us are born knowing what we are here for,” they said.

Nik drew and painted often throughout their childhood, with horses being their first love, and then moving on to copying characters from a favourite anime.

“During secondary school, the pressure to achieve academically ramped up and I didn’t feel I had the time or the energy to continue to paint, and being spurred on by my parents to dedicate time to painting felt like a burden, so I rebelled and refused to paint or draw at all…that was probably one of the worst periods in my life,” they recounted.

“I eventually picked up the brush again after taking art as a subject in sixth form, which had its own difficulties; as painting out of one’s own desire and painting because some teacher says you have to are a far cry from each other,” they said. 

And what are they inspired by?

“So, I am influenced mainly by my research into scripture, psychology and the natural world around me.”

“As a child raised on scripture and myths by my own choice – as no amount of nagging or ostracization by my peers could get me to engage with the religion being force-fed to me through school and the culture around me – my background comes out in my art.”

“I was raised on the myths of Parvati, Ganesh and Shiva, dipped my toes into the Greek pantheon, read the Bible at the age of nine out of my own interest. I have always sought out a mother figure when I felt lonely or afraid, something which very much was my reality as a child.”

Their art also often uses symbols stemming from three cultures that they feel most close to, being Hinduism, Christianity and traditional Maltese culture. 

“My main point of visual inspiration is medieval or Byzantine iconography: as they have a harsh lined, yet meditative stillness to them which inspires a quieting of the mind in its viewer – something which I try to emulate,” they said.

Since an aspect of the Mother lies within the Earth itself, Malta as Motherland is a huge source of inspiration to Nik, in elements such as flora, fauna and in cultural traditions.

And where are they now?

“Currently, I am working on developing more into my yoga roots and gaining the required accreditation to teach yoga,” they explained.

“I am also working on developing more into the ritual side of my practice, and eventually publishing a book on the subject. I am working on a concise exhibition on the loss of traditional Maltese culture to rampant consumerism; through the eyes of Eve and Mary.”

The work also aims to send a message of self-empowerment, to those who, similarly to Nik, suffer from anxiety.

“The message is a call to develop one’s self will and to lead your life on your own terms.”

“To those who feel impotent and helpless – the power to overcome obstacles in their path – The fierce, protective Mother. Secondary to that is the underlying drive to reclaim our Mother in her more apparent form; the natural earth around us, our traditions, people, culture, nation.”

Follow Nik on Instagram at @matri.mater.omm

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