Malta's 'Diplomazija astuta' at Venice Biennale: Caravaggio, Technology, and Mediterranean Identity

At the 59th Venice Biennale, Malta's Pavilion is presenting an engaging installation called 'Diplomazija astuta' or 'Cunning Diplomacy,' which draws inspiration from Caravaggio's painting 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.' Curated by Keith Sciberras and Jeffrey Uslip, the exhibition features contributions from Italian artist Arcangelo Sassolino, along with Maltese artists Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci and Brian Schembri. Sassolino's work showcases fire drops splashing into aluminum basins, representing themes of time and loss. Schembri Bonaci's metal artworks weave in multiple languages to convey a sense of renewed humanity, while Brian Schembri crafts a percussive soundtrack using the installation's ambient sounds. The pavilion explores themes of negotiation and collaboration, linking to the Cippi of Melqart, with one pillar at the National Museum of Archaeology in Malta and another at the Louvre in Paris, supported by Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for The National Heritage, The Arts and Local Government.