Artist Jeni Caruana recently launched her exhibition entitled Arbor Vitae (Tree of Life) at The Majjistral Nature and History Park Visitors Centre, Ghajn Tuffieha.

A sizeable number of guests, including Dr Owen Bonnici MP, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government and Karl Gouder MP, Opposition Spokesman for Culture, were present on the night.

Trees have always been one of Caruana's recurrent motifs and with the Arbor Vitae collection, Caruana wanted to explore the many meanings attached to trees, and how vitally important it is that we preserve, respect and protect them.

In her welcoming remarks, Simone Mizzi, vice-president of Din l-Art Helwa, thanked Caruana for choosing the Majjistral Park for her exhibition, commenting that "nature is so calming and so soothing we need it in our everyday lives. We need fresh air for healthy living and trees to keep our atmosphere clean and filter the pollution we create ourselves. Trees offer shelter not just to man but to the small wildlife and the birds that abound in every place".

The exhibition was then officially inaugurated by His Excellency Stuart Gill, British High Commissioner to Malta. In his comments, the High Commissioner said that it was fitting that the paintings are being exhibited in an important corner of Malta that still enjoys its natural state and is now being revitalised.

The Majjistral Nature and History Park is the first National Park in the Maltese islands. It falls under the governance of Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust Malta and the Gaia Foundation.

The exhibition is open to the public daily from 10am to 3pm until 16 December.

For further information visit www.jenicaruana.com or the Facebook Event page Arbor Vitae.