FESTIVAL
OF EUROPEAN ISLANDS CULTURES IN GOZO: NEOLITHIA ARTS FESTIVAL 2001 -
"From the Hands of Neolithic Artisans"
"Neolithia Arts Festival 2001" in collaboration with the
Ministry for Gozo, is holding an international Arts Exhibition in
conjunction with the Festival of European Islands Cultures, from 14th
to 30th November 2001, in the Sentinella Hall, Triq il-Fosos,
in the Citadel, Victoria. Viewing hours will be 8.00a.m.- 4.00p.m.
Monday to Saturday, and from 9.00a.m. – 3.00p.m. on Sundays.
A highlight of the Exhibition will be a display of
prehistoric items from sites in Malta and Gozo, on loan from the
National Archaeological Museum, entitled "From the Hands of
Neolithic Artisans". Ceramics, stone implements, and other
artifacts will comprise this exhibit.
Contemporary artists will be represented in
"Temple Views" by Maltese photographer Daniel Cilia, who hails
from Victoria, with colour photography of prehistoric temples, including
dramatic aerial views. His photographs also include detailed close-ups
of figurines, such as the "Sleeping Lady" found at the Hal
Saflieni Hypogeum, as well as ones from the Xaghra Stone Circle
excavation. Background information and a brief history of the specific
sites accompany Mr. Cilia’s works.
In addition, local and international artists who have
visited the islands will present a mixed media show of paintings,
ceramics, sculpture, and poetry entitled "Artistic
Inspirations". The rich visual sensations of the Maltese Neolithic
temples will be the focus of the multi-media artshow, with artists from
Malta, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Maltese artists taking part include Isabelle Borg,
Josette Caruana, Anthony Calleja, Louis Casha, Sina Farrugia, Neville
Ferry, Anna Grima, Louis Lagana’, Anthony Sammut, Paul Stellini and
Joe Xuereb. Artists from overseas include Hanne Bille Andersen, Jenny
Badger, Ann-Rosemary Conway, Linda Eneix, Bonnie Liss, Dori Pendergrass,
Allyson Rickard, Monica Sjöö, Henry Sultan, and Jean Busuttil Zaleski.
The purpose of the festival is "to create
awareness and raise funds to help preserve Malta’s important
heritage", according to Marie Mifsud, Director of the Neolithia
Foundation.
Mr Anthony Pace, Director of Museums Department,
stated that "The Neolithia Arts Festival 2001 has brought a number
of artists, and one of Malta’s foremost photographers together into
one extended celebration of Maltese prehistoric art. The Festival has
also been accompanied by a number of lectures and a superb literary
evening. The contemporary art by a number of artists focused on a series
of themes that illustrate or provoke thoughts about Maltese Neolithic
art. The Festival’s success can be attributed to a convergence of
various forms of the creative arts".
Sponsors of the "Neolithia Arts Festival
2001" include Maltacom, Malta Tourism Authority, Barclays, Air
Malta, Polidano Group, Empire Cinema Complex, Marsovin, the British
Council and Scancraft.
More information may be obtained by contacting the
Ministry for Gozo on 556125/561482 or Neolithia Foundation on 9943 8800
or e-mail: neolithia@onvol.net.
Background note by Mr. Anthony Pace, Director of Museums Department
"Neolithia Arts Festival 2001" in
conjunction with Festival of European Islands Cultures (Gozo).
14-30th November 2001, the Citadel,
Victoria.
Lithos - Light
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eolithia
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rts
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2001
The Powerful Attraction of Maltese Prehistoric Art.
T
he powerful attraction of Maltese prehistoric art seems to be
inescapable. Many of Malta’s contemporary artists as well as a number
of visiting artists have succumbed to the attraction of this most
ancient art.
Originally created between 5200 and 2500 BC, the
various Neolithic art forms have come down to us after having been
buried for thousands of years. For almost two hundred years, numerous
archaeological sites have been excavated. But it was only after 1964,
Malta’s year of independence, that contemporary artists began to focus
their attention on the island’s Neolithic art. The reasons for this
sudden focus are many.
It would seem that the search for a local idiom
presented itself in modern art circles. Independence seems to have
enkindled this inevitable search for roots, in this case a collective
past that would distinguish Malta from other countries. To several
Maltese artists, this looking back into an uncharted past became a quest
that could be followed through modern imagery and art forms. In many
respects, it was Malta’s Neolithic art that seemed to capture a
uniqueness which even the splendour of Baroque art and architecture
could not surpass.
Just as an artist would look at landscape for
inspiration and subject matter, so would many of Malta’s
post-independence painters and sculptors look at Neolithic art for
creative stimulation. Temples and statues, spirals and doorways, all
such art forms would come to shape part of the artist’s language of
forms. To the stark stone colour of reality was added a whole range of
colours. Anything can happen on a modern canvas. But many things remain
the same.
The basic art forms and canons of Neolithic Malta
have retained their original designs and structures: the curves, the
spirals, the pitted decorations, the manner in which human beings were
represented. The list of conventions can go on and on. It is as if
modern artists cannot escape from the magical hold of these primeval art
forms. Had the Neolithic artists captured the archetypal forms and
recreated them for posterity’s sake? Stone and clay would have
certainly guaranteed this.
Posterity. Art for eternity. Indeed, an artist’s
dream would be that of creating art for art’s sake in a time continuum
that defies generation after generation. The "Neolithia Arts
Festival 2001" has brought a number of artists, and one of Malta’s
foremost photographers, together into one extended celebration of
Maltese prehistoric art. The Festival has also been accompanied by a
number of lectures and a superb literary evening. The contemporary art
by a number of artists focuses on a series of themes that illustrate or
provoke thoughts about Maltese Neolithic art. The Festival’s success
can be attributed to a convergence of various forms of the creative
arts.
