Darrin Zammit Lupi joins a formidable list of leading figures in the Maltese arts scene to be awarded the Gold Medal and certificate by the Malta Society of Arts (MSA) in recognition of his exceptional contribution to photographic art and photo-journalism.
The award was presented by H.E Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, alongside MSA’s Acting President Roderick Camilleri.
“To be included among such an extraordinary group of past recipients — figures like Sir Temi Zammit, Richard England, Marius Zerafa, Gabriel Caruana, Oliver Friggieri, Giovanni Bonello, Joseph Calleja, Emvin Cremona, Edward Caruana Dingli, Carmen Azzopardi, Carmine Lauri, Austin Camilleri and others — feels both unreal and humbling. If I’m honest, I’m still grappling with a very real sense of imposter syndrome,” he shared on social media following the ceremony.
Since 1992 – when Darrin kickstarted his career upon joining the The Malta Independent and becoming a freelance photographer soon after, including a contract with Reuters from 1997 till present day – he has travelled across the globe, gaining widespread recognition for his photojournalistic work.
Assignments took him to Albania and war-torn former Yugoslavia – which earned him the BPC Award to Journalists in 1993 – to Kosovo to cover the refugee crisis during the war, to south-east Asia following the tsunami tragedy, as well as Libya and Ukraine to capture the state of war-torn countries, among many others national and international assignments.
In her speech, the President acknowledged the photographer’s career, as well as the responsibility, empathy and public service linked to the profession of photography, which he embraced for the common good throughout his career.
The MSA’s Gold Medal tradition was established over a century ago, with the first award being granted to sculptor Vincenzo Cardona in 1896. Since then, it has recognised leading figures in the arts including Richard England, Oreste Kirkop and Keith Sciberras, among many others.
Ceremony images courtesy of the Malta Society of Arts
