Heritage Malta refers to Dr Schembri Bonaci’s letter entitled “Appreciating Art” (TMIS, 29 May). The Agency fails to understand the reasons why Dr Schembri Bonaci, in his official capacity as artist and lecturer in the History of Art Department (University of Malta,) turned a valid comment by Nicola Petroni concerning the lack of adequate representation of modern and contemporary art at the National Museum of Fine Arts (TMIS, 22 May), into a surprisingly uncalled-for attack on the National Museum of Fine Arts.
The Agency would like to draw Dr Schembri Bonaci’s attention to its long-standing commitment to promote the creative arts in line with Malta’s National Cultural Policy 2010. Exhibitions at the National Museum of Fine Arts include such diverse topics as last year’s commemoration of the late sculptor and decorator Antonio Buhagiar (1906-2008) curated by Dr Schembri Bonaci’s Head of Department (Prof. Mario Buhagiar), to the forthcoming “I fought the X and the X won”, an international exhibition currently on show at the National Museum of Art in Cluj (Rumania) including international names and our very own Raphael Vella, Vince Briffa, Austin Camilleri and the up and coming Adrian Scicluna. Irrespective of the uneven reactions to Schembri Bonaci’s ‘HOME’ the exhibition falls within the remit of Heritage Malta’s NMFA all-inclusive and diversity-oriented policy which Dr Schembri Bonaci believes does not exist.
Dr Schembri Bonaci also claims that the museum is far from being representative of Malta’s art history and states that it shows a very poor grasp of the subject. In this respect, Heritage Malta assures that it takes advice, as and where necessary, from experts with internationally recognised qualifications and a proven track record in art history, heritage policy and collections development. These include current and former lecturers at the History of Art Department (University of Malta), other University of Malta Departments and internationally recognised academic expertise with one or two names also known to Schembri Bonaci. Works from the permanent display also feature prominently in key local and international publications with a good number of these authored by peer academics from his very own Department. Heritage Malta believes that the collection can still be further strengthened with important acquisitions but this applies to any other public collection, although much depends on the availability of funding and space. It is also working on better explaining the permanent display to the layman including some key re-thinking of certain parts.
It is surprising how Dr Schembri Bonaci fails to mention all the upgrades, some of which are still in progress, that have been carried out at the museum during the past four years. Work is far from complete; some has yet to be tackled and others are in the pipeline. Projects concluded include the refurbishment of the Renaissance and Baroque galleries, the new labelling including radio-chip info stickers as part of the Smartmuseum Project, and other major improvements. As for the long-overdue work in the loggia, qualified as ongoing by Dr Schembri Bonaci, it was concluded last September. Within the remit of this work, Sciortino’s monument to Anton Checkov has been relocated to the inner area of the loggia from its previous location in the external space exposed to the elements where it had been previously exhibited since 1974. No complaints by Dr Schembri Bonaci on its previous and current state or condition were registered, neither by any third parties. The only communication concerning the Les Gavroches monument forwarded by Dr Schembri Bonaci is a request to photograph this bronze for the purpose of study.
Heritage Malta does not need to reiterate its trust in the curators of the National Museum of Fine Arts. The results of their unstinting commitment regarding the much needed renovation work are there for all to see. Together with other Heritage Malta staff, they have also increased the museum’s profile locally and abroad. Heritage Malta also ensures Dr Schembri Bonaci and the general public that it has all the necessary expertise to advise how best to approach such situations. The ‘Les Gavroches’ has been adequately packed by its professional conservators and only uncovered in between phases in this three-year restoration project when the Loggia was holding temporary exhibitions. The same applies to the plaster cast of Sciortino’s ‘Anton Checkov’.
Kenneth Gambin
Chief Curator
Heritage Malta