The Bank of Valletta’s main office building in Santa Venera is playing host to a jot to be missed retrospective exhibition of works by renowned architect, artist and poet Richard England. The exhibition features models and designs of his architectural work around the world, as well as some of his most striking works of sculpture, graphics and art. 

Among England’s best known works in Malta are the Church of St Joseph at Manikata, the University’s 90s extension buildings, the Central Bank of Malta Annexe, the Millennium Chapel and the rehabilitation of the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, although the artist has left his mark in countries as far apart as Iraq and the United States. His proposals for what might have been the new entrance to Valletta are also on display, providing one of many potential points of discussion.

The exhibition curator is Charles Knevitt, an award-winning former architecture correspondent of the British Sunday Telegraph and The Times and former Director of the Royal Institute of British Architect Trust. Knevitt is also the author of two monographs on Richard England’s works.

At the exhibition’s inauguration, Knevitt said that: “England has worked with Malta’s local tradition not against it, respecting mass over void, shade over direct sunlight, topography, climate, materials and the memory of place.” The exhibition itself was inaugurated by President George Abela, and blessed by Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, administrator of the Millennium Chapel in Paceville, which was another of Richard England’s designs.

The catalogue carries an introduction by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano who describes Richard England as “A master builder, his walls breathe, yet they are walls which are anchored to the ground and their individual elements interact and merge perfectly. It is from the articulation and the joints in an edifice that one recognizes the real maker of buildings, and it is thanks to this quality that England’s architectural work avoids appearing romantic.  It is an architecture which is local, but also global, for his language is the language of poetry”.

The exhibition is open until 19 July.  Richard England’s works may also be viewed on www.richardengland.com.