When Alex Vella Gera's Is-Sriep Reġgħu Saru Velenżi was first published in 2012, it won the national book prize and pretty much became a cult hit almost instantaneously. Not only due to the narrative arc itself, but for the way it effectively captured the zeitgeist of a whole decade, digging deep into our subconscious, exposing an entire nation's vulnerabilities. This, I … [Read more...] about Is-Sriep Reġgħu Saru Velenużi
ARTS
Malta International Arts Festival 2021
For us culture hounds, the beginning of summer is all about one thing – the advent of the Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF), pretty much the biggest deal on the Maltese culture calendar at this time of year. This year I was unsure whether I would have anything to look forward to (thank you for nothing, COVID-19) but – happily – Festivals Malta proved my worries … [Read more...] about Malta International Arts Festival 2021
The Passage of Time – public art
As COVID-19 has made it increasingly difficult to visit museums and art in closed spaces, the concept of community outreach and art in public spaces has now gained a new dimension. Art pieces in spaces accessible to all, especially incidental footfall, are extremely important. Now, Pembroke boasts just one such addition to its public areas - The Passage of Time, an … [Read more...] about The Passage of Time – public art
Some baked bread during lockdown…
Comedian Steve Hili decided to declare himself Emperor of the micronation Zooxaloo If, like me, you've seen - and fallen in love with - the movie Rose Island on Netflix, then you know where this news is going. Rose Island is the charming, quirky, somewhat crazy tale of a young Italian man who decides to stick it to the corrupt system by creating his own little slab of … [Read more...] about Some baked bread during lockdown…
La Pietà: grace meets sensuality
I had been looking forward to viewing this production at Spazju Kreattiv since it was first announced. Composer and video-producer Ruben Zahra's work is known for pushing the envelope and for offering a fresh take on classical themes, so I figured that the visual of the Madonna cradling the body of Christ - arguably made most famous by Michelangelo's sculpture in Carrara marble … [Read more...] about La Pietà: grace meets sensuality