A painting by Alfred Chircop, one of the leading Maltese artists in modern art, is being exhibited in Brussels.

Following a request made by the President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts carefully assessed a number of artistic works by Maltese artists that express the islands’ culture and selected the work by Chircop.

The painting forms part of an artistic display which will be embellishing the Berlaymont Palace in Brussels, the European Commission’s headquarters, for the next three years. Participating artists come from the member states of the European Union.

The exhibition was opened on 17 May by Mr Barroso. Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech together with other foreign ministers for culture were present.

Alfred Chircop’s painting attracted particular interest and received positive feedback from various personalities that attended the ceremony.

The president of the European Commission in fact was seen discussing the painting with Minister Zammit Dimech. The permanent representative for Malta in Brussels, Richard Cachia Caruana, and Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott also attended.

Unfortunately, Alfred Chircop was indisposed and could not attend.