The announcement of the three bozzetti submitted by father and son artists Alfred and Aaron Camilleri Cauchi for national monuments to former Presidents Censu Tabone, Guido de Marco and former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff were met with both positive and negative re- actions. Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, senior lecturer at the History of Arts Department, feels very disap- pointed at the low artistic level and the high level of mediocrity of the three Maltese statesmen monument proposals chosen by Heritage Malta. Speaking to The Malta Independent, he highlighted that the works must not only show assimilation with what the statesmen looked like but this assimilation must be transcended so as to reflect their spirit, ideas, struggles and the politicians they were in the widest sense of the word. He highlighted that art signifies the nation’s identity and consequently there is the need for professional expertise to decide which works should be chosen. “We want these to reflect our pride as a nation but for example, many of the roundabout monuments border on rubbish,” he said.

“Is this what we want to portray?” He said the very idea behind the chosen works is wrong as they lack historical and ideological values be- sides the ugly deformations they depict. Mentioning the monuments of Winston Churchill, found at the Upper Barrakka Gardens and that of Dante Alighieri, in Floriana, he said Malta is lacking sculptors of the skill Antonio Sciortino, Vincent Apap and Josef Kalleya had. Unfortunately, both the artists being commissioned to carry out such work and the people sitting on the board of selection do not seem to have the necessary expertise, he continued. Dr Schembri Bonaci spoke of the need for a great over- haul in art education because al- though we have people of great talent, craftsmanship is lacking. 

Lawyer Joe Mifsud Discussing how the idea came about, lawyer and former TVAM presenter Joe Mifsud said he used to insist on having a monument to commemorate the late Guido de Marco. The debate developed and he therefore suggested a national initiative to come up with the best ideas. He likes the work portraying the late Guido de Marco, whom he sees as his mentor, but is less confident with that portraying Censu Tabone, noting that he does not like the way his arm is positioned. Moreover, he said that Guido de Marco’s monument should not show him as being on a pedestal because he was al- ways very close to people. At the same time, he wishes Dr Tabone’s monument to be in Gozo, yet his family wishes should first and foremost be respected. Discussing Dom Mintoff’s bozzetto, he pointed out that he had liked the one by Noel Galea Bason’s more and asked whether this is in- tended to complement that of Manuel Dimech, also situated at Castille Square.

Artist James Vella Clark “In my opinion, what is being pro- posed through these three bozzetti is something very archaic and sadly, very unoriginal. Their static rendition does absolutely no justice to the dynamic character and legacy of these three politicians. If they really have to have these three persons personified, they are still in time to go for a more original and artistically relevant option. But this is beside the point. My opinion is that gone are the days where we have to erect monuments to honour or commemorate past politicians. I feel that politicians’ best monuments are their work and the legacy they leave be- hind them. Erecting monuments is not a must and this is a trend that needs to stop because it’s become ridiculous.

Artist Liliana Fleri Soler “From the image I saw on the newspaper, the monuments would be the usual thing. The essence of a person needs to be captured in a sculpture and perhaps it is about time to have monuments which are more meaningful and which do not necessarily show people’s figures.”

Relatives of the late statesmen Mario de Marco – son of Guido de Marco, Helen Farrugia Randon and Yana Mintoff Bland, daughters of Censu Tabone and Dom Mintoff respectively, had positive remarks on the initiative and look forward to seeing the complete monuments. They also expressed their faith in the artists.