With almost 40, 000 visitors over a year-and-a-half, the internationally renowned exhibition of torture instruments The Art of Pain has registered as much success in Malta as it had previously done in numerous countries around the world. The exhibition, which was housed in the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa and hosted by Heritage Malta, came to a close at the end of 2005.

More than half of the visitors registered were individual visitors and statistics for the period of the exhibition reveal that a considerable percentage of these were students and senior citizens. Originally, the exhibition was planned to last a year, up to the end of July 2005, but because of the large number of visitors to the Inquisitor Palace, it was decided to extend it until the end of the year.

According to Heritage Malta head curator Kenneth Gambin, most of the Maltese visitors visiting the exhibition were also entering the Inquisitor’s Palace for the first time.

By its decision to take on this exhibition, Heritage Malta continued to improve and vary its product, service and overall visitor experience, as well as to strengthen its commitment and vision towards the Cottonera area. Heritage Malta strongly believes in providing visitors with an enhanced experience when visiting any of the museums and sites under its care. This exhibition also carried a strong message against the use of torture and enjoyed the support of Amnesty International Malta Group.

Acting as an incredible testimony against the violation of human rights, from the Middle Ages right through to the 19th century, the instruments come from all over Europe and their authenticity has been certified by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Italy.

The exhibition The Art of Pain displayed instruments ranging from stretching wheels to chastity belts and starvation masks, mingling an interest in history with a curiosity over what fellow humans were, and still are, capable of when inflicting pain, misery and ultimately death on helpless victims.

It is a mistake to speak of torture as a thing of the past, as the infliction of pain as punishment still haunts the present, predominantly in Middle Eastern countries. With the intention to shock and repulse, the collection’s uniqueness was the crude, uncensored manner in which it was displayed, underlying its goal to denounce torture, the death penalty and any other kind of inhuman and degrading treatment.

Further attractions are planned for the Inquisitor’s Palace, one of which will be a temporary national exhibition of Good Friday statues and statuettes, which will open on 8 March and run until mid-April.

On Maundy Thursday, Heritage Malta will be extending the opening hours of the Inquisitor’s Palace until late in the evening. The exhibition will also be open to the public on Good Friday.