Photos on display at the APS exhibition recording the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in Malta in 1935

APS Bank launched a unique photographic exhibition featuring 25 photos shot in Malta during the King George V's Silver Jubilee Celebrations between 5 and 12 May 1935. The photos, printed from the digitised version of the original, are of historical and sociological importance.

"APS Bank actively supports events which explore and highlight the rich heritage that has marked the development of Maltese society over the centuries. This year's photography exhibition combines the art of photography with the political and social history of the Maltese Islands. The exhibition resurrects the memories of historical events that marked the uneasy years of the mid-1930s from the Malta National Archives and other private sources. Humanity had to endure the harsh realities of the World War of 1939-1945. These photographs freeze a series of events in Malta's recent history," said Mr E.P. Delia, chairman of APS Bank.

Exhibition curator, Kevin Casha said that, in 2003, the Malta National Picture Archive was set up in Santo Spirito, Rabat with the help of national archivist Charles Farrugia. This started off the process of digitising and saving local photographs for research and posterity.

"The photographs on show make up part of the photographic collection at the National Archives and have been reprinted from the digitised versions.  Although some post processing has been done in order to crop to a particular size and to bring out the tonal range as best as possible, no attempt to alter or change the essential content of the images has been done. This is in order to keep the photographs factual and remain faithful to reportage and journalistic ethics. Furthermore, the same deterioration that usually affects a photographic print seems to make it so much more magical and mysterious."

The bank's belief in photographic art is extremely beneficial not only for local photographers but also for enabling the general public to further appreciate and cherish our inimitable heritage," concluded Mr Casha.

APS Bank invites all those who have an interest in our country's history to visit the exhibition being held at the APS Head Office in Swatar, Birkirkara. The exhibition is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 1pm and on Saturday from 8.30 to 11am.   

Those visiting the exhibition can also collect a related publication edited by Mr Casha and published by APS Bank.