The 24th police Good Friday exhibition - being held at the Police headquarters – will witness an influx of visitors between today and tomorrow, according to Sgt Major Joseph Borg, the PRO for the group of artists that sets up the display.
Worthy of note is that the exhibition, for the very first time since its inception in 1992, has a female participant – WPC Isabelle Cutajar - who uses fine grains of coloured salt to create magnificent artworks. But other brilliant artworks on display include the creations of two other police constables - Mario Muscat and Daniel Scerri.
The exhibition – which took over a month and a half to set up - will run until Sunday. Every year, around 1,000 visitors flock to the exhibition, which is now considered to be a must for some as part of their seven church visits on Good Friday.
Ms Cutajar explained that she mixes fine salt granules with coloured powder to create her paintings.
Sgt Major Borg explained that the display is not only about the Last Supper but symbolises the time when Jews escaped the Pharaohs’ clutches and returned to their homeland – Israel.
PC Scerri’s works include a salt painting of Joseph Caiaphas – the Jewish high priest who is said to have organised the plot to kill Jesus. PC Scerri has been participating in the police exhibition for seven years.
The exhibition includes a replica of the Last Supper table according to Jewish custom, with miniature statues of the apostles, and a symbol attributed to each apostle is displayed on the table under each statue. The statuettes were sculpted by PC Pierre Bugeja – the works of which were sculpted way back in 1992.
For instance in Apostle San Andreas’ case, a crucifix was used to symbolise his crucifixion. As for Judah, a money bag was used as a depiction.
PC Muscat was responsible to build statues using fibre glass and this year has come out with a new piece of art – the Roman Emperor’s emblem – made out of cardboard. The armour of other statues of Roman soldiers is made out of cardboard, including their clothing. PC Muscat has been an active participant for a good 13 years.
At first glance, visitors may easily be deceived into thinking that the armour is made out of metal due to the fine detail used. But Sgt Major Borg explained that the material used in this case is cardboard.
Other works of art include the face of Jesus Christ. The artist – WPC Cutajar – explained that the actor who played Jesus in the film Jesus of Nazareth - Robert Powell – inspired her to draw this salt painting. Real thorns were used for this particular work of art.
At the very end of the hall is a representation of Golgotha, with three crosses, a ladder and other Roman army paraphernalia.
The exhibition will be held today – Maundy Thursday – between 8 a.m. and noon and 5 and 8 pm. Tomorrow – Good Friday – it will be open to visitors between 8 am and 5 pm.
On Saturday the display can be viewed between 8 am and noon and between 5 and 8 pm.
As for Easter Sunday, the exhibition will be open between 5 and 8 pm.
Photos James Bianchi