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MALTATODAY 14 April 2019

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16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 APRIL 2019 FILM CULTURE THE seasonal offerings at Il- Ħaġar museum in Pjazza San Ġorġ, Victoria, include a "Gol- gotha" display. A room on level 2 has been turned into a repre- sentation – through the use of some 100 clay figurines of epi- sodes in the Way of the Cross. Visitors can tour this tradi- tional display during normal opening hours (9am to 5pm) all seven days of the week until 20 April. Entrance is free. 'Golgotha' display at Il-Hagar ĦAĠARNA is a reflection of the identity, history and cul- tural heritage of Xagħra, Go- zo, reflected through contem- porary art practice. The concept is deep-rooted in the cultural identity of the community of this village which relates directly to its prehistoric roots. Aside from Ġgantija Tem- ples which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the local- ity is also home to Santa Verna Temple, Għar ta' Għejżu and Xagħra Stone Circle, amongst others. Victor Agius is synonymous with the contemporary inter- pretations of the prehistoric elements of the locality of Xagħra and the ephermal na- ture of his works. Ħaġarna combines a multi- tude of artistic forms includ- ing sculpture, literature and performance together with aspects of cultural patrimony relating to our built heritage, folklore and national lan- guage. The sculpture is a reflection of the artist's desire to retrieve different narratives related to the community of this village, figuratively entrapped within the stone. It poses a degree of inter- activity in that one is able to walk through the dissected boulders to feel its direct im- position and also its direct legacy. Through various perfor- mances, Agius will also en- able the direct involvement and participation of various groups and communities from the Gozitan village, which although they do not relate to contemporary art, play an important role in the cultural and folkloristic components of Xagħra. Victor Agius believes that performance is vital and also an essential part of the tan- gible monument because the geological and also the physi- cal displacements conjure images that remain cast ac- cordingly in the town's con- sciousness. Through the act of perfor- mance, the community will gather and also build upon aspects related to historical narratives and also collective memory. Combining a multitude of artforms, the artist is also in- corporating literature within the sculptural element by en- graving parts of 'Ġgantija II' by Maltese writer Dr Imma- nuel Mifsud and 'L-Għanja tal-Inkurunazzjoni' by the late Xagħra artist and poet Mgr Michelangelo Apap on the inside of the respective dis- sected boulders. From prehistoric to contemporary narratives Hagarna combines a multitude of artistic forms including sculpture, literature and performance with aspects of cultural patrimony relating to our built heritage, folklore and national language

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