Beyond The Bastions - a title that already stirs the imagination - is open to the public, inviting us to trace the layered history of the Floriana Lines and their metamorphosis into Malta's newest cultural sanctuary: the Malta International Contemporary Art Space, lovingly known as MICAS. A once-defensive structure it is now reborn as a vibrant home for contemporary art.
It is an interesting exhibition and definitely worth a visit. More so if you haven't visited MICAS yet. You really must. I have been several times and still find the place truly astonishing. There are regularly offers of free entrance. They are advertised on their Facebook page.
Hosted in the first-floor gallery of MICAS, the exhibition features a compelling array of historical documents from the National Archives and the Bibliotheca, alongside photographs, audiovisual material, architectural plans, drawings, and scale models that narrate the evolution of this extraordinary site.
The exhibition's narrative arc follows the transformation of a military stronghold into a welcoming, public space - one that now embraces both Maltese and international contemporary art with open arms. It is a story of vision, conviction, and cultural ambition.
Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici, who inaugurated the exhibition, spoke with heartfelt pride: "This exhibition is not merely a record of infrastructural development - it is the embodiment of Malta's aspiration to participate fully in the global conversation of contemporary art. National prosperity is not measured solely in economic terms, but in the spaces where imagination and creativity are allowed to flourish."
His words echo the spirit of the place a haven for future dreams.
Phyllis Muscat, executive chairperson of MICAS, reflected on the deeper meaning of this transformation. "These fortifications, once shaped by the logic of defence, beckoned for reinvention. Today, MICAS stands as proof that small nations can dream large dreams. Malta has claimed its rightful place in the international cultural dialogue."
Indeed, the longing for a dedicated contemporary arts museum had long simmered within Malta's artistic community. It was only in 2013 that the Coordinating Board for Cultural Projects, chaired by Ms Muscat, took decisive steps toward creating the MICAS agency. Ground was broken in 2018, and by 2024, the dream was realised with a grand opening exhibition by the celebrated Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. That was an astonishing exhibition the likes of which I had not known existed, and yet it was brought to Malta to celebrate the opening of MICAS. What a treat that was.
Dr Georgina Portelli, deputy chairperson, added that this third exhibition of 2025 would delight not only history and architecture enthusiasts, but also the wider public. "Many of Malta's historic sites remain underused or unrestored. The MICAS board chose to integrate rather than reinvent the old Ospizio site here in Floriana. We resisted the temptation of the 'Bilbao effect' - the pursuit of spectacle - and instead honoured our Maltese heritage."
She continued with poetic clarity: "MICAS's design acknowledges the site's military past. Barbara's Arch, once the threshold between fortified land and sea, now serves as a visual gateway linking the museum to Marsamxett Harbour."
Architect Carlo Terpolilli and his team at IPO Studio embraced this 'poetry of place'. Their design - glass and steel rooflines, contemporary galleries nestled within ancient limestone - allowed the history of the Floriana Lines to breathe anew, within a space where contemporary art can thrive.
For those wishing to visit MICAS, explore its exhibitions, or simply bask in the beauty of its rebirth, details on admission and opening times can be found at micas.Art/visit-us. Parking is easy, I promise.
While there I visited the shop, and not for the first time. I love it. It reminds me of the V & A shop in London but this is on a much smaller scale. So many interesting items to tempt us. Jewellery, leather goods, silk scarves... and of course many books.
Two books caught my attention simply because I had enjoyed both the exhibitions they cover. They are the result of MICAS's collaboration with leading art publishers Skira of Milan. One is The Space we Inhabit, 2025's finest showcase of Maltese art, featuring Maltese artists Caesar Attard, Vince Briffa, Austin Camilleri, Joyce Camilleri, Anton Grech, and Pierre Portelli.
This high-quality publication features contributions from art historian Joseph Paul Cassar, MICAS Artistic Director Edith Devaney, as well as six wide-ranging interviews with the participating artists, revealing an array of intimate insights on their artistic development and styles.
In Malta, the book is on sale only at MICAS at its gift shop or online.
"MICAS is proud to be pioneering this collection of high-quality publications in collaboration with Skira Arte. We are all the more delighted that we are placing Maltese art on the list of Skira's extensive catalogue of publications," said MICAS executive chairperson Phyllis Muscat. "We have committed ourselves to give Maltese contemporary art the international exposure it rightly deservers."
In May, MICAS had already published the catalogue of its opening exhibition Joana Vasconcelos: Transcending the Domestic, also on sale in its gift shop or online, as well as having published the catalogue of its digital-only, pre-opening exhibition Between Sea And Land.
The Italian publishing house Skira covers the entire history of art and is considered a world authority on the arts. Founded by Alberto Skira in 1928 with inaugural publications about Picasso, Ovid and Surrealism, today Skira has cemented its position as a world-leading publisher of the arts that embodies the perpetual change of art and the spirit of learning without limits.
It's not easy to resist buying more books if one is an addict. Just because I am living the last chapter of my life - how long it will be is another matter - doesn't seem to stop me from being an addict. Never mind that many remain unread - but not unexplored. Books comfort me and give me a sense of security. I find them irresistible.