![LeBlond visage]()
7 artists, 7 spaces, 7 visits - Between Sunday 24th March and Sunday 7th April, visitors to our capital Valletta will be able to view a number of contemporary art installations that speak of ‘faith’ in most unexpected ways.
Books, shirts, utensils, fire, a morgue... the Seven Visits... seven well established artists... and Jesuits. What could possibly be the connection? There is actually one binding golden thread, and that, curiously, is ‘faith’.
Between Sunday 24th March and Sunday 7th April, five locations in Valletta will host contemporary artistic installations by local artists Vince Briffa, Charles ‘City’ Gatt, Austin Camilleri, Patrick Fenech and Pierre Portelli, French-Canadian Jesuit and artist Daniel LeBlond SJ, as well as a virtual space by Malcolm Bonello. All seven spaces intend to draw the visitor into interior speculation. The media may be startling, yet every visitor will certainly react and that, ultimately, is what this event is all about. Reaction. Reflection. Response.
‘Re:Visit - The Contemporary Face of Faith’ is an event supported by the Malta Arts Fund and brought to the public by the Jesuits in Malta to mark the Year of Faith. It is unconventional, even brazen, but then that is not untypical of the Jesuits! Here they propose something of a detour from the traditional approach to one of the most sacred times in the liturgical year, Holy Week and Easter, and invite local and foreign visitors to let themselves be challenged to see a vigorous dialogue between art and faith that draws the onlooker into the conversation. To be led to consider aspects of faith that are less obvious and less worn with use.
It is not only interesting but also challenging to re-visit the theme of faith in a time where we admire and are awed by the artistic treasures in our churches but perhaps shy away when confronted with present day religion’s visual culture.
The “Re:Visit” project will aim at re-evaluating the Church/artist partnership in a world of changed tastes and attitudes. The project is based on the traditional concept of ‘the visit’ in Holy Week, that is the encounter of the person and space as conduit of reflection and an act of invocation. It provides an alternative (though not a replacement) ‘Seven Churches Visitation’ for the public to reflect and respond to.
'ReVisit is a different take on the seven visits to the altar of repose that are for many an intentional or habitual feature of Maundy Thursday evening or Good Friday morning. Seven contemporary art installations are open for visits throughout Holy Week and Easter Week in five Valletta locations, at the intersection between sacred and secular,' says Jesuit Joseph Cassar SJ
The installations include:
Vince Briffa – Sta. Barbara Church, Republic Street;
Austin Camilleri – Tal-Pilar Church, West Street;
Patrick J. Fenech – Jesuit’s Church, Merchant’s Street;
Charles ‘City’ Gatt – Jesuit’s Church, Merchant’s Street;
Pierre Portelli – San Gakbu, Merchant’s Street;
Digital Space by Malcom Bonello – St. James Cavalier, Meditation Room;
Daniel LeBlond SJ - St. James Cavalier.
Other events also forming part of the project include
- an art workshop directed by French-Canadian Jesuit and artist Daniel Leblond SJ at St James Cavalier on Saturday 30th March
- a public lecture - ‘Father Peter Serracino Inglott Memorial Lecture’ - supported by FONDATION DE MALTE ‘A Dialogue Between Art and Faith’ which will take place at St James Cavalier on Tuesday 4th April at 7.30pm;
- ‘Pietre Vive’ experience of Italian fame, where members of the public watch the spiritual message of artistic works unfold under the direction of visiting Italian Jesuit Fr Jean Paul Hernandez SJ and his young team. This will take place at St John’s Co-Cathedral on Saturday 6th April, between 9.30am and 12.30pm for foreign visitors, and between 2.30pm and 5.30pm for locals.
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(see also No Comment section, item EXHIBITION)
