Following a request made by the President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, after carefully assessing a number of artistic works that express the islands’ culture, finally selected the work by artist Alfred Chircop, known as one of the leading Maltese artists in modern art.

The painting forms part of an artistic display that will embellish the Berlaymont Palace in Brussels, the European Commission’s headquarters, for the next three years. All participating artists come from member States of the European Union.

The exhibition was inaugurated last month by the President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso. The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Francis Zammit Dimech together with other foreign Ministers for Culture were present at the opening ceremony.

Alfred Chircop’s painting attracted particular interest and received positive feedback from various personalities who attended the ceremony. The President of the European Commission in fact was seen discussing the painting with Dr Zammit Dimech. Malta’s permanent representative in Brussels, Richard Cachia Caruana, and Professor Peter Serracino Inglott also attended the opening ceremony. Unfortunately, Alfred Chircop was indisposed and could not attend.