Malta Biennial, here are the names of all the artists participating in the first edition

All set for the first edition of the Malta Biennial. The art event that will invade the Maltese archipelago in 2024, from March to May (the first edition will be titled White Sea Olive Groves, or the “olive groves of the white sea,” and the artistic direction is entrusted to Italian curator Sofia Baldi Pighi) will see the participation of 72 artists (including also groups and collectives) from 23 different nations, and there will then be 20 national and thematic pavilions scattered between Malta and Gozo on 21 historical sites (the national pavilions are those of Austria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Palestine, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine). The Biennial, the first of its kind in Malta, is an initiative of Heritage Malta, with the Arts Council Malta as the lead partner, as well as the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Libraries, Valletta Cultural Agency, MCAST, Festivals Malta and Spazju Kreattiv, all supported by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Directorate of Culture. This first Maltese Biennale will also present a public program that will include participants such as the University of Naples l’Orientale and IULM University in Milan, the Academy of Design Arts in Florence, Image Threads in New York, and many others.

The idea behind the Malta Biennial is to bring national heritage into dialogue with contemporary art-a challenge, however, that is also meant to be a source of inspiration for participating artists. The names of the participants have been announced: among them are first-rate names including Tania Bruguera from Cuba, Andrea Ferrero from Mexico, Barbra Kapusta from Austria, Dew Kim from South Korea, Edson Chagas from Angola, Amy Bravo from the United States, Anna Anderegg from Switzerland, and Andreco from Italy (definitely a large Italian patrol, by the way). In contrast, there are 24 home-grown artists.

Mario Cutajar, president of Heritage Malta and chairman of the Biennial, explained the themes that make up this first Biennial in Malta. “First, there is an overarching theme for this Biennale and its future editions, which is the Mediterranean: the olive groves of the white sea reflect on the region’s constant search for peace. Our current times make this theme even more urgent.” Delving into the three main goals of this international art festival, Cutajar spoke about the dialogue between past and present, history and contemporary art, and the interpretation of the past to understand the present and better examine the future, stressing the importance of a biennial. “Malta is the only appropriate place where the Mediterranean can find and interpret itself,” Cutajar said. The Biennial president also explained that the Biennial will serve to strengthen the dialogue between Maltese art and that found beyond its shores, strengthening an already thriving sector and diversifying it. The event will certainly put Malta on the international cultural calendar, an aspiration that could be said to have already been achieved, considering that the Biennial has already attracted more than 2,500 art proposals from over 100 nations. “Certainly, this made the selection process of the curatorial team quite challenging and raised the artistic level that our country should reach,” Cutajar said.

Artistic director Sofia Baldi Pighi, a Milan-based Italian with curatorial experience in contemporary art, is leading the curatorial team of the Malta Biennial, composed of compatriot Elisa Carollo and Maltese artists Emma Mattei and Nigel Baldacchino. Baldi Pighi unveiled the Biennale’s four artistic themes: theMatri archive, which explores the women of the land; post-colonialism, an ever-present theme for the Mediterranean region; the Mediterranean itself; and piracy and its current significance. Each theme will be grouped into a series of sites that will house Maltese aspects relevant to each theme. Baldi Pighi expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to contribute to a Biennial in a nation so rich in history, which no doubt has served to draw attention to the event, not only from the contemporary artists who will be the focus of the Biennial, but also individuals who have already indicated their intention to visit the islands between March and May. The Biennial’s public program will involve international cultural institutions, will be aimed at audiences of all ages, and will include workshops, discussions and lectures spread throughout the Biennial period.

Below is the list of announced artists: Alan Abd El Monim (Italy/Egypt), Camilla Alberti (Italy), Anna Anderegg (Switzerland), Teresa Antignani (Italy), Jean-Marie Appriou (France), Rosa Barba (Italy-Germany), Simon Benjamin (Jamaica), Laura Besançon (Malta), Aaron Bezzina (Malta), Rebecca Bonaci (Malta), Josian Bonello (Malta), Isabelle Borg (Malta), Claude Borg, Maria Borg, Sumaya Ben Saad and Rebecca Mifsud (Malta), Amy Bravo (USA), Tania Bruguera (Cuba), Siwani Buhlebezwe (South Africa), Teresa Busuttil (Australia), Anna Calleja (Malta), Austin Camilleri (Malta), Edson Chagas (Angola/Portugal), Mel Chin (China/USA), Leo Chircop (Malta), Dolphin Club (Malta, France), Joseph Cochran II (USA), Andrea Conte (Andreco) (Italy), Gaia De Megni (Italy), Mònica de Miranda (Portugal/Angola), Adama Delphine Fawundu (USA), Zehra DoÄŸan (Kurdistan), Dolphin Club (Malta, France), Madeleine Fenwick (UK), Andrea Ferrero (Peru), Martina Georgina (Malta), Romeo Roxman Gatt (Malta), Nina Gerada (Malta), Sara Goldschmied and Eleonora Chiari (Italy), Bettina Hutschek (Germany), Anne Immelé (France), Daniel Jablonski (Brazil), Barbara Kapusta (Austria), Dew Kim (South Korea), Konstantina Krikzoni (Greece), Wioletta Kulewska Akyel (Poland), Sara Leghissa (Italy), Ji Yeon Yaloo Lim, Pia Borg (South Korea, Malta-Australia), Luz Lizarazo (Colombia), Edson Luli (Albania), Basim Magdy (Switzerland/Egypt), Guadalupe Maravilla (El Salvador), Jermay Michael Gabriel (Italy), Karyn Olivier (USA), Zazzaro Otto (Italy), Adrian Paci (Albania) Post Disaster (Grazia Mappa, Gabriele Leo, Gabriella Mastrangelo, Peppe Frisino) (Italy), Dijana Protić (Croatia), Laure Prouvost (France), Keit Bonnici, Florinda Camilleri, Neils Plotard (Malta, Malta and France), Agnes Questionmark (Italy), Anna Raimondo (Italy), Pedro Reyes (Mexico), Cemile Sahin (Germany), Paul Sammut (UK), Zineb Sedira (France/Algeria), Ana, Giuditta Shametaj, Vendrame (Italy/Albania, Italy), Anthony Spagnol (Malta), Tom Van Malderen (Belgium), Fabrizio Vatieri (Italy) and Raphael Vella (Malta).

Malta Biennial, here are the names of all the artists participating in the first edition

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