Launching this spring, maltabiennale.art is set to be Malta’s first Art Biennale. While the island has hosted several biennales before, most recently the APS Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale, this one will be Malta-centric in both location and theme. The much-anticipated event is already generating excitement, “attracting submissions from over 2,500 artists across 75 nations”. Although the final selection is still pending, the organisers have guaranteed that “several artists of international fame” will be participating in the exhibition (A list of artists can be found here).

The exhibited artworks will explore Maltese and Mediterranean identity in the present day, per the theme of White Sea Olive Groves, or “baħar abjad imsaġar taż-żebbuġ” in Maltese. Many of the historic sites where the artworks will be displayed are Unesco-protected, including the entire capital city of Valletta, with its 320 historic structures, is a world heritage site). 

A lot of the locations that will be used as exhibition space are rather unconventional, but they reflect the historic opulence of Malta. These locations include the megalithic temples of Ġgantija in Gozo, the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, and the Armoury in Birgu. Through this project, these will become platforms for artistic creations and expressions.