From Nuclear Disarmament to Migration, Diverse Themes Emerge Across Maltese Cities

Courtesy of MALTABIENNALE.ART

Gozo, the second largest of the Maltese islands, hosted an installation by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes as part of Malta's first biennale. Reyes's project, "Artists Against the Atomic Bomb," featured posters advocating for nuclear disarmament hung from industrial wires across the island's streets. This installation was one of over 80 artworks displayed across various sites in Malta.

The biennale, which opened on March 11, received significant support from the Maltese government as part of an initiative to enhance the country's arts image. Additionally, the government is backing the upcoming Malta International Contemporary Arts Space (MICAS), set to open in October in Floriana, near the capital city of Valetta. Mario Cutajar, chairman of Heritage Malta, supervised the selection of heritage sites used as venues for the exhibition.
 

▲ Adama Delphine Fawundu, A Meditation For the Dispersed, 2023 / Courtesy of MALTABIENNALE.ARTA total of 72 artists, including veterans like Tania Bruguera and Laure Prouvost, participated in the biennale, which spanned twelve historical sites across Malta's cities. Curated by Sofia Baldi Pighi, the main exhibition, titled "Insulaphilia," encouraged artists to explore Malta's cultural identity, influenced by North African, European, and Arab convergences, as well as the political dynamics arising from its remote location.

The curatorial team, including Elisa Carollo and Emma Mattei, made concerted efforts to address social conservatism in Malta during the biennale. In an interview with ARTnews, the curators noted the country's heavily misogynistic culture and described the biennale as a rare opportunity to engage with feminist concepts in a public forum.

On the opening day of the biennale, over a hundred visitors entered Valetta's Grand Master's Palace, adjacent to the National Library. The first of four themed exhibitions, titled "The Matri-archive of the Mediterranean," focused on women. A notable piece was a video installation by Adama Delphine Fawundu, titled "A Meditation For the Dispersed," featuring footage of a black model at sea.

Migration emerged as a recurring theme throughout the biennale, reflecting Malta's involvement in the migrant crisis due to its location between continents. According to Italian government data, approximately 34,000 migrants made the perilous sea journey to Malta in 2023.
 

▲ Zineb Sedira, Middle Sea, 2008 / Courtesy of maltabiennale.artThe second day of the biennale took place at the Birgu Armory, a 16th-century military site in Malta's Southeast. Cuban artist Tania Bruguera's work, first produced in 2012, featured the European Union flag with the phrase "The poor treatment of the migrants today will be our dishonor tomorrow" scrawled across it by a graffiti artist. A crowd gathered to witness the performance, which lasted nearly 45 minutes.

On the same day, various internationally established artists showcased their interpretations of the main pavilion's sea theme. Among them was Zineb Sedira, a French Algerian photographer and video artist, who presented her 2008 work "MiddleSea" at the Birgu Armory. This single-screen video installation follows a man traveling on a ferry between Marseille and Algiers, featuring an eerie sequence captured through vibrating camerawork.

During the three-day preview of the biennale, several surreal moments captivated audiences. On the third day, a performance piece titled "Embassy" by the Suez Canal Republic collective, composed of Italian artists, attracted attention. The performance involved a group member interacting with a metal exploration rover, intriguing onlookers as they observed a woman alongside the remote-controlled machine traversing a flowered field at the highest point of Gozo, a Citadel accessible only by ferry.
 

▲ Embassy by Suez Canal Republic / Courtesy of maltabiennale.artAnother notable installation, orchestrated by an Italian choreographer, enticed viewers to the edge of the Ħaġar Qim cliff near a megalithic temple, providing a unique perspective of the Mediterranean. Additionally, a film by Rosa Barba titled "Inside the Outset: Evoking a Space of Passage" was screened in a medieval tunnel beneath Valetta's main tourist center, with Barba's shots of Cyprus serving as the sole source of light.

Despite Malta's limited arts infrastructure, the biennale provided exposure for a few young Maltese curators, allowing them to showcase their exhibits to a broader audience.

Sayart 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com