In 2017 Malta is officially returning to the International Art Exhibition at the Biennale di Venezia, after an absence of 17 years. It has so far participated with a special exhibition of Maltese Artists in 1958 and a National Pavilion in 1999.
Raphael Vella and Bettina Hutschek are the two artist-curators of the Malta Pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia to be held between 13th May and 26th November 2017. With their concept Homo Melitensis: An incomplete inventory in 19 chapters, they will present the Malta Pavilion as a poetic compilation of unique things that supposedly define the imaginary of the Maltese identity.
Malta’s Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is one of the 70 actions which is being implemented as part of Strategy2020, Arts Council Malta’s five-year strategy for the cultural and creative sectors. It also formed part of government’s electoral programme.
The declared aim of the Malta Pavilion is to offer a platform through which Maltese contemporary artistic practices understood within the broadest sense of the term can be exposed, contextualised and presented to an international audience.
The Maltese Pavilion forms part of the Cultural programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2017 and it will also bridge with the contemporary art programme of Valletta as European Capital of Culture in 2018.
Curatorial team for the Malta Pavilion announcement
Open call for Maltese artists based outside of Malta
List of participating artists for 'Homo Melitensis: An Incomplete Inventory in 19 Chapters'
Preparations for the Malta Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia 2017 well underway
Malta Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2017 officially inaugurated
View the videos of some of the participating artists:
