Biography

       L. Caruana was born 1962 in Toronto Canada, of Maltese descent. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Philosophy, and then studied painting at die Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Vienna. In the year 2000 he apprenticed directly under Ernst Fuchs, working as his assistant in his studios in Monaco and Castillon.
       The artist has made his home variously in Toronto, Malta, Vienna, Munich, Monaco and Paris. During his wanderings he has actively recorded his dreams and expanded their imagery through mythology. His paintings are inspired by memories and dreams, experiments with entheogens, and the interplay of different cultural symbols and styles.
       His interest in sacred art and iconography has led to extensive travels, studying the spiritual traditions of Gothic and Renaissance Christianity (Western Europe), Byzantine Christianity (Eastern Europe), ancient Egypt (Egypt), Hinduism (India), Buddhism (Nepal, Tibet), Mayan and Aztec culture (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras).
       After meeting his French fiançée in Munich, L. Caruana settled in Paris. From his studio in the Bastille quarter, he continues painting while editing The Visionary Revue: the On-line Journal of Visionary Art. The year 2008 marks his first painting seminar with Maura Holden.
       L. Caruana has also authored several books:
       - The Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ, Based on the Nag Hammadi Texts
       - Enter Through the Image: The Ancient Image-Language of Myth, Art and Dreams
       - A Manifesto of Visionary Art (available in English and French)

L. CARUANA CHRONOLOGY

1962

Born February 16, 1962 in Toronto Canada, of Maltese descent.

Edenbridge on the Humber. Grew up next to Lambton forest, James gardens, and the Humber river. Frequent walks in the forest and frequent visits to island homeland of Malta in the Mediterranean. Showed a marked fascination with drawing and dreams as a child.

1976 - 1981

HIGH SCHOOL. First formal studies in painting, sculpture, and art history under Theodore Samotowka. Discovered Surrealism, and the works of Salvador Dali. First works inspired by Surrealism; drawings became dream-like and enigmatic.

1981 - 1985

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. Studied Ancient Greek and German Philosophy. Read Pre-Socratics, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger and Jung. Graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons). Began recording dreams. Wrote Scream of Consciousness, illustrated with sculptures expressing mythic and archetypal themes.

1986

MAGICUS THEATRE Wrote, directed, and acted in plays (Reznikoff, Buried Mirrors) while making films (Psychologica, What Dwells in Man, Eternal Return). All works explored the themes of madness, dreams and the unconsciousness.

1987

WESTERN EURPOPE. Extensive travels, studying Gothic and Northern Renaissance art (Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Bosch) as well as Italian Renaissance (Da Vinci, Michelangelo). Travel journal: European Pilgrimage.

1988 - 1989

TORONTO. Upon return, abandoned the collaborative arts of theatre and film to concentrate on painting and writing in solitude. Began a series of gothic paintings, such as The Dance of Death. Published Fragments, a collection of essays, poems and plays. Then began wandering through Europe.

1990 - 1991

VIENNA (Neustift Viertel). Studied painting at the Akademie der Bildende Künste. Discovered Fantastic Realism and the works of Ernst Fuchs. Frequently sketched ancient Greek, Egyptian and Aztec works in museums, while studying mythology in the writings of Campbell, Eliade, Zimmer and Frye. Developed 'old masters' approach to painting while mixing myths and symbols from different cultures.

1991

EASTERN EUROPE. Extensive travels, visiting monastaries and studying Byzantine art and iconography. Travel journal: Voyage to Byzantium.

1992 - 1993

**MALTA (Mellieha). Began Meditations of a Heretic, a novel set in Malta, based on its cultural myths. Began paintings inspired by visionary dreams and expanded through sacred art and myth.**

1993 - 1996

**MUNICH (Alt Schwabing, Haidhausen). Met French fiançée. First extensive experiments with entheogens. Further pursuit of paintings based on 'the interplay of art, myth, and dreams'.**

1996 - 2000

PARIS (Montmartre, Quartier Latin). Finished Enter Through the Image, a lengthy study of the logic underlying arrangements of images in myth, art, and dreams. Continued symbolic experiments in painting. Married French fiançée. Bought and renovated studio. Worked with Ernst Fuchs on murals in the Apocalypse Chapel in Klagenfurt, Austria. Attended the Old Masters / New Visions Seminar in Payerbach, Austria, studying the Mischtechnik. Exhibitions: 100 Sacred Visions (Payerbach)

2000 - 2001

MONACO (Castillon). Apprenticed under the master Visionary artist Ernst Fuchs for one year, assisting on his larger paintings in his studio on the Quai des Artistes in Monaco and his home Castel Caramel in Castillon. Wrote A Manifesto of Visionary Art. Exhibitions: l'Art Imaginaire (Monaco)

2001 - 2002

PARIS (Bastille). Launched The Visionary Revue, 'The Electronic Journal of Visionary Art'. Published The Manifesto of Visionary Art on-line and in a limited edition of 200 signed and numbered copies. Exhibitions: Art of the Imagination (London), Parfums de Femmes (Paris).

2003

N. AFRICA, ASIA. Travelled through Egypt, India, Nepal and Tibet for three months, studying Egyptian, Hindu and Buddhist art. Travel journal: A Visionary Journey to the East.

2003 - 2006

PARIS (Bastille). Published the second and third issues of The Visionary Revue, the Johfra and Kalmakoff issues. Launched the French version of The Manifesto of Visionary Art. Wrote: Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ, Based on the Nag Hammadi Sources. Exhibitions: Chimeria (Sedane), Dali's Heirs Paint Europa (Wolnzach, Munich), La Mort Transfigurée (Paris).

2006

CENTRAL AMERICA. Travelled through Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras for two months, studying Mayan and Aztec art. Travel journal: Mayan Vision Quest.

2007 - 2008

PARIS (Bastille). Official release of The Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ Based on the Nag Hammadi Texts. Launched GnosticQ.com, A Source for Gnostic Studies as well as the 4th issue of The Visionary Revue on Entheogens. Entheologue with Alex Grey at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York. Exhibitions: Metageum (Malta). First painting seminar with Maura Holden: Visions in the Mischtechnik.

Join Maura Holden and myself this summer for our painting seminar:

1962

1976 - 1981

HIGH SCHOOL. First formal studies in painting, sculpture, and art history under Theodore Samotowka. Discovered Surrealism, and the works of Salvador Dali. First works inspired by Surrealism; drawings became dream-like and enigmatic.

1981 - 1985

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. Studied Ancient Greek and German Philosophy. Read Pre-Socratics, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger and Jung. Graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons). Began recording dreams. Wrote Scream of Consciousness, illustrated with sculptures expressing mythic and archetypal themes.

1986

MAGICUS THEATRE Wrote, directed, and acted in plays (Reznikoff, Buried Mirrors) while making films (Psychologica, What Dwells in Man, Eternal Return). All works explored the themes of madness, dreams and the unconsciousness.

1987

WESTERN EURPOPE. Extensive travels, studying Gothic and Northern Renaissance art (Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Bosch) as well as Italian Renaissance (Da Vinci, Michelangelo). Travel journal: European Pilgrimage.

1988 - 1989

TORONTO. Upon return, abandoned the collaborative arts of theatre and film to concentrate on painting and writing in solitude. Began a series of gothic paintings, such as The Dance of Death. Published Fragments, a collection of essays, poems and plays. Then began wandering through Europe.

1990 - 1991

1991

EASTERN EUROPE. Extensive travels, visiting monastaries and studying Byzantine art and iconography. Travel journal: Voyage to Byzantium.

1992 - 1993

**MALTA (Mellieha). Began Meditations of a Heretic, a novel set in Malta, based on its cultural myths. Began paintings inspired by visionary dreams and expanded through sacred art and myth.**

1993 - 1996

**MUNICH (Alt Schwabing, Haidhausen). Met French fiançée. First extensive experiments with entheogens. Further pursuit of paintings based on 'the interplay of art, myth, and dreams'.**

1996 - 2000

2000 - 2001

MONACO (Castillon). Apprenticed under the master Visionary artist Ernst Fuchs for one year, assisting on his larger paintings in his studio on the Quai des Artistes in Monaco and his home Castel Caramel in Castillon. Wrote A Manifesto of Visionary Art. Exhibitions: l'Art Imaginaire (Monaco)

2001 - 2002

PARIS (Bastille). Launched The Visionary Revue, 'The Electronic Journal of Visionary Art'. Published The Manifesto of Visionary Art on-line and in a limited edition of 200 signed and numbered copies. Exhibitions: Art of the Imagination (London), Parfums de Femmes (Paris).

2003

N. AFRICA, ASIA. Travelled through Egypt, India, Nepal and Tibet for three months, studying Egyptian, Hindu and Buddhist art. Travel journal: A Visionary Journey to the East.

2003 - 2006

2006

CENTRAL AMERICA. Travelled through Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras for two months, studying Mayan and Aztec art. Travel journal: Mayan Vision Quest.

2007 - 2008

Contact:
visionnaire@lcaruana.com

Join Maura Holden and myself this summer for our painting seminar:

1962

1976 - 1981

HIGH SCHOOL. First formal studies in painting, sculpture, and art history under Theodore Samotowka. Discovered Surrealism, and the works of Salvador Dali. First works inspired by Surrealism; drawings became dream-like and enigmatic.

1981 - 1985

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. Studied Ancient Greek and German Philosophy. Read Pre-Socratics, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger and Jung. Graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons). Began recording dreams. Wrote Scream of Consciousness, illustrated with sculptures expressing mythic and archetypal themes.

1986

MAGICUS THEATRE Wrote, directed, and acted in plays (Reznikoff, Buried Mirrors) while making films (Psychologica, What Dwells in Man, Eternal Return). All works explored the themes of madness, dreams and the unconsciousness.

1987

WESTERN EURPOPE. Extensive travels, studying Gothic and Northern Renaissance art (Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Bosch) as well as Italian Renaissance (Da Vinci, Michelangelo). Travel journal: European Pilgrimage.

1988 - 1989

TORONTO. Upon return, abandoned the collaborative arts of theatre and film to concentrate on painting and writing in solitude. Began a series of gothic paintings, such as The Dance of Death. Published Fragments, a collection of essays, poems and plays. Then began wandering through Europe.

1990 - 1991

1991

EASTERN EUROPE. Extensive travels, visiting monastaries and studying Byzantine art and iconography. Travel journal: Voyage to Byzantium.

1992 - 1993

MALTA (Mellieha). Began Meditations of a Heretic, a novel set in Malta, based on its cultural myths. Began paintings inspired by visionary dreams and expanded through sacred art and myth.

1993 - 1996

MUNICH (Alt Schwabing, Haidhausen). Met French fiançée. First extensive experiments with entheogens. Further pursuit of paintings based on 'the interplay of art, myth, and dreams'.

1996 - 2000

2000 - 2001

MONACO (Castillon). Apprenticed under the master Visionary artist Ernst Fuchs for one year, assisting on his larger paintings in his studio on the Quai des Artistes in Monaco and his home Castel Caramel in Castillon. Wrote A Manifesto of Visionary Art. Exhibitions: l'Art Imaginaire (Monaco)

2001 - 2002

PARIS (Bastille). Launched The Visionary Revue, 'The Electronic Journal of Visionary Art'. Published The Manifesto of Visionary Art on-line and in a limited edition of 200 signed and numbered copies. Exhibitions: Art of the Imagination (London), Parfums de Femmes (Paris).

2003

N. AFRICA, ASIA. Travelled through Egypt, India, Nepal and Tibet for three months, studying Egyptian, Hindu and Buddhist art. Travel journal: A Visionary Journey to the East.

2003 - 2006

2006

CENTRAL AMERICA. Travelled through Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras for two months, studying Mayan and Aztec art. Travel journal: Mayan Vision Quest.

2007 - 2008

Contact: visionnaire@lcaruana.com

**MALTA (Mellieha). Began Meditations of a Heretic, a novel set in Malta, based on its cultural myths. Began paintings inspired by visionary dreams and expanded through sacred art and myth.**

**MUNICH (Alt Schwabing, Haidhausen). Met French fiançée. First extensive experiments with entheogens. Further pursuit of paintings based on 'the interplay of art, myth, and dreams'.**

Contact:
visionnaire@lcaruana.com