Malta’s contemporary art scene is continuing to grow beyond its traditional Baroque roots, with Maltese-based artists now preparing to showcase their work on one of Asia’s major international art stages.
Malta will make its historic debut at the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, which runs from 5th September to 15th November.
The Maltese pavilion, titled BEJN / In-Between, is led by artistic director Julien Vinet and brings together Norbert Francis Attard, creative collective Ponks, Vinet and Maltese journalist-turned-poet Sam Alekksandra, and sound artist Michael Quinton.
At the heart of the project is a five-kilometre “Rope Temple”, featuring poetry from more than 140 Maltese and Korean writers.
The installation takes inspiration from Malta’s maritime traditions alongside geumjul, sacred Korean ropes traditionally used to ward off evil spirits.
The pavilion will also incorporate Malta’s festa traditions, Korean cultural influences and sounds recorded across both countries, creating a dialogue between two cultures thousands of kilometres apart.
The international appearance comes as Malta’s contemporary art scene undergoes significant change, driven by new institutions, galleries and events including the Malta Biennale and MICAS.
For Alekksandra, the growth is already visible on the ground, with Ponks events that began with little more than a microphone and poster now regularly attracting more than 100 people.
What do you make of Malta’s growing presence on the international art scene?
Video from Instagram: Bejn / In-between
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Dylan Attard is a Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta and a proud Gozitan with a passion for digital media, content creation, and social trends. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him at the gym, watching series or doomscrolling.
