The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici on Friday inaugurated the Maltese Pavilion during the 59th International Art Exhibition “La Biennale di Venezia.” 

The Pavilion was commissioned by Arts Council Malta.

At the Maltese Pavilion, a unique installation named “Diplomazija Astuta” is being exhibited, which was very well received by this year’s Venice Biennale visitors.

The Malta Pavilion reimagines Caravaggio’s seminal altarpiece “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” as an immersive, sculptural installation which overlays biblical narrative onto the present. Diplomazija Astuta re-situates Caravaggio’s immanent themes within modern life. It allows audiences to negotiate a space where the tragedy and brutality of St. John’s execution are experienced in the present through a marriage of creativity, engineering, art, and science.

In his address, Bonnici stated that the fact that Malta is participating in the Venice Biennale for the third time in a row is yet another important milestone in the journey of Malta’s cultural and creative sectors. He said that such events provide more opportunities for artists to showcase and expand their talents.

“Our art and the messages which are transmitted from it are being portrayed beyond our shores in a stronger and better manner,” Bonnici said.

Bonnici congratulated the hard work of all involved, especially the Executive Chairperson of Arts Council Malta Albert Marshall and his team, the Curators: Keith Sciberras and Jeffrey Uslip, and Exhibitors: Arcangelo Sassolino, Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci and Brian Schembri.