The First Malta Art Biennale, which runs from March 13 to May 31, 2024, is an unprecedented event featuring 80 artists from 23 countries. This biennial offers a unique opportunity to explore the richness and diversity of local and international contemporary art.
The biennial is an initiative of Heritage Malta through MUŻA, the Malta National Museum of Community Art. It is held in collaboration with the Malta Arts Council and is under the patronage of H.E. the President of Malta and UNESCO.
Spanish Representation: Avelino Sala
Artist Avelino Sala, born in Gijon in 1972, represents Spain at the First Malta Art Biennial. Sala presents an individual, site-specific project entitled “No one is an island”, curated by Cordovan contemporary art critic and curator Ángel Moya.
Sala’s work, installed inside Villa Portelli, Spanish Pavilion in the town of Kalkara, works on the concept of identity in a multiple and plural dimension. The encounter and exchange with other cultures is its fundamental axis. The Asturian interrogates the cultural and social reality from a romantic perspective with a critical point of view, continuously exploring the social imaginary, identifying its weak points and verifying the credibility of conceiving and implementing alternatives.
The Malta Art Biennale focuses mainly on Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can immerse themselves in historic sites such as the Grand Master’s Palace, explore the subway tunnels that served as shelters during World War II, visit St. Telmo Fort, the Ġgantija Archaeological Park on the island of Gozo and the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu.
Biennial Strategic Themes
The Malta Art Biennale 2024 focuses on themes that explore the cultural richness and history of the Mediterranean. Strategic themes include:
- Matri-archive: Research on the role of women in the region.
- Post-colonialism: Continued relevance to the Mediterranean area.
- The Mediterranean: As a political and cultural body.
- Piracy: Contemporary interpretations of its meaning.
These themes invite reflection on society and art, proposing new narratives and celebrating diversity and peace. The First Malta Art Biennale promises to be an unforgettable event that will leave a lasting mark on the international art scene.