This article was originally published in BPM Magazine. Read the full version of the magazine here.
One Tile At A Time
Thomas Camilleri is the founder of Lazarus Tiles, a company that focuses on the restoration of old Maltese tiles. As one can guess, the name stems from the biblical story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, as Thomas aims to resurrect Maltese history and give it a new home.
The purpose of Lazarus Tiles is to ‘document the craft of Maltese cement tile-making’ and to ‘salvage and restore cement tiles’. Thomas’ dedication to preserving Maltese tiles has paved the way for installing them in houses where they can be appreciated. He believes that by having homes which incorporate a piece of Maltese history, Maltese heritage can live on.
Thomas started this business during the COVID19 pandemic and it has grown exceptionally since then. He explains how finding tiles leads him to explore various places and houses, such as abandoned properties. Therefore, his creative process allows him to appreciate the beauty of buildings and places. Along the way, he has also met several individuals who share the same passion towards preserving Maltese culture. While finishing a piece of work means getting business, Thomas feels more grateful for the people he meets. One project which stuck with him was salvaging tiles from St. Joseph’s School. Throughout this project, he met several ex-students who purchased a tile to keep a part of their school’s history as a testament to the memories they made there.
Thomas believes that these tiles, whether stained or loose, can add character and beauty to any place. While tile restoration, preservation, and installation are by no means easy work, Thomas finds that they lower his BPM in a good way as he automatically focuses only on the task at hand.
Thomas describes himself as curious, restless, and hungry for knowledge related to people, Maltese history, and everything else!
Apart from Lazarus Tiles, Thomas also works in marketing and is an actor. Having to juggle these different aspects of his life, time is a challenging factor in Thomas’ life. However, he’s always ready to work whenever inspiration hits, even if it’s at 11 PM!
While Lazarus Tiles is an overall calming project for Thomas, his BPM is certainly different when it comes to being an actor. Acting brings along a rush of adrenaline and excitement, especially when being on stage. He says that having three different paths keeps his life interesting.
Between acting, marketing, and tile restoration, Thomas’ life is anything but mundane. He strives to find a balance between these three personas and enjoys the different emotions each one elicits. Thomas has no intention of stopping Lazarus Tiles anytime soon, so keep an eye out for beautiful designs to be restored and rehomed!
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