Malta Pavilion at 2019 Venice Biennale Features Antoniou, Borg, Briffa

The Malta Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale, running from May 11 to November 24, 2019, presents artists Klitsa Antoniou, Trevor Borg, and Vince Briffa. Their exhibition, titled 'Maleth/ Haven/ Port- Heterotopias of Evocation,' is inspired by Homer's Odyssey and curated by Hesperia Iliadou – Suppiej with Matthew Casha and George Lazoglou. The project offers a contemporary, immersive reinterpretation of the timeless human need for a haven (Maleth in Phoenician), especially in times of crisis. The Phoenician word Maleth evokes Malta's primordial origins and translates to Haven/Port, reflecting the experiences of those who have crossed the Mediterranean. The exhibition draws on Mediterranean stories and mythologies, aiming to create a curatorial theme where artworks meet and unite like vessels in a sea, inviting intuitive, playful dialogue. It is set within a suggestive fictional space at the Arsenale. Arts Council Malta executive chairman Albert Marshall announced that educational workshops led by artists and curators will accompany the exhibition, along with a catalog designed as a symbolic guide through life's journey, inviting public participation. The article also lists other national pavilions for the 2019 Biennale, including artists from the UAE, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Turkey, Pakistan, Spain, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Portugal, India, Romania, and Kosovo.