With the much-anticipated maltabiennale.art in full swing, a number of captivating pavilions are set to mesmerise visitors from around the globe. Alongside the Main Pavilion, several national and thematic pavilions spotlight distinct themes, showcasing the rich spectrum of creative expression of artists from diverse backgrounds.
From the vibrant streets of Valletta to the picturesque sea views of Cottonera, these pavilions take their visitors on a delightfully enlightening journey across various key historical sites, exploring, questioning, and re-inventing concepts and stories along the way. At MUŻA – Malta’s National Community Art Museum, the Malta Pavilion explores the different narratives which exist within our archipelago, confirming some as findings and others as fantasies.
A stroll down to the National Museum of Archaeology, promises a captivating journey through the timeless essence of human creativity in the Serbian Pavillion, a zooming-in on experiences shared by the seemingly unconnected Korean and Maltese societies, and the sparking of critical discourse on the ethical dimensions of reproductive technology through visceral artistry.
In the majestic Fort St Elmo, the Austrian pavilion offers a create a transformative experience inspiring introspection, empathy, and a commitment to shaping a more inclusive and compassionate future. The Franco-German Pavilion initiates a dialogue with the sea, uncovering the old secrets held within its salt’s crystals, whilst the Chinese Pavilion breathes life into texts and images, and Other Geographies, Other Stories poses the question of whether we can forge a new world with a different order, inviting a ‘herstorical’ viewpoint.
Across the Grand Harbour’s azure waves, in Fort St Angelo, the Sea Pavilion skilfully plays with Malta’s seaborn identity. In Birgu too, at the Inquisitor’s Palace, the Sicilian Piazza Armerina Pavilion studies new forms of balance between man and nature, in a mosaic-fashion.
Villa Portelli in Kalkara lends its charming ambience as canvas for four more national Pavilions – Ukraine, Italy, Spain and Poland, exploring the complex narratives of decolonisation and shared imperial pasts, the dynamics of inclusion through marginal spaces, the concept of identity in a multiple and plural dimension, and the key biblical story of St. John and his death at the request of Salome, recontextualising it through a contemporary lens.
The maltabiennale.art invites you to experience the magic of its pavilions and embark on a journey of discovery that will linger in your heart and mind long after. You can discover more on each of maltabiennale.art’s pavilions by visiting here.
