A new sculpture by Austin Camilleri, titled WIEĦED, was installed on Monday at Ras ir-Reqqa, within the limits of Żebbuġ. The work is one of four selected through a 2021 open call for Public Art by the Ministry for Gozo, and later commissioned in 2023. All four projects were officially launched on 26 February at Hotel ta' Cenc in the presence of Minister Clint Camilleri.

The initiative aims to strengthen cultural engagement by expanding the presence of contemporary public art across Gozo through a competitive selection process.

Playful yet conceptually layered, WIEĦED-meaning "one"-presents what the artist describes as a "pure image," drawing inspiration from European statuary. It reinterprets traditional sculptural language through processes of sampling and transformation, resulting in a form that feels both familiar and unexpected. While it echoes the grandeur of classical monuments, it subtly challenges their authority and reflects on the relationship between human and more-than-human environments. Its shape responds to the coastal landscape and engages in dialogue with the nearby submerged Billighurst Cave.

As with all public art, WIEĦED invites conversation. It stands as a contemporary intervention that interacts directly with its natural surroundings.

The bronze sculpture features an asymmetrical design with a pronounced cantilever, supported by a steel armature engineered for resilience in a coastal setting. Its installation required detailed structural planning and environmental analysis. Notably, no new pathways, plinth, or artificial lighting were introduced, ensuring minimal disruption and preserving the integrity of the site.

Ultimately, WIEĦED aspires to become a lasting cultural landmark-one that connects past and present while existing in harmony with Gozo's natural environment.