CloseThe maltabiennale.art2024 is pleased to announce the countries that have been selected to set up the national pavilions in the first ever biennale to be held in Malta. These are Austria,China, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Palestine, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine.
Members of the international press were shown round the historical and archaeological sites that will host the Central Pavilion and the National/Thematic Pavilions, including the Grandmaster’s Palace, Underground Valletta and Ġgantija Archaeological Park in Gozo. These evocative sites characterise the Maltese islands’ expansive historic heritage encompassing seven thousand, two hundred and twenty-three years of civilisation and provide the perfect backdrop for the main theme of maltabiennale.art: BaħarAbjadImsaġar taż-Żebbuġ.
“These sites, symbols of Maltese history and Mediterranean civilisation, are not mere locations for intervention; no urban environment, let alone a cultural treasure steeped in history, is ever neutral and silent”, says Sofia Baldi Pighi. Thus, the contemporary artists who will be exhibiting in these venues, must rebuild an intimate relationship with these locations. “To envision the first edition of the biennale in such an ancient land necessitates working in tandem with its history.”
Mario Cutajar, maltabiennale.art’s President and Chairman of Heritage Malta, considers the overwhelming response to the call for contemporary art proposals for maltabiennale.art 2024 to be proof that “the artist wants to speak up and needs the space and support to discuss their surroundings through their art.” He says that Malta should be proud to be providing this space through maltabiennale.art.
This inaugural biennale was conceived with an interdisciplinary approach and is teaming up with the Underwater Department at Heritage Malta; the Archeological Department atHeritage Malta; the Maritime Museum at Heritage Malta; L’Orientale University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centre for Post colonial and Gender Studies (Naples); IULM University (Milan); MCAST–The Malta College of Arts, Science &Technology; University ofMalta; MADE Fine Arts Academy (Syracuse); Northwestern University(Boston, USA); MAM–Matri-Archivio del Mediterraneo; Magna Żmien (Malta)
