Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1159832
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 AUGUST 2019 11 CULTURE DIFREJN Il-Falkun, set in contemporary Malta, is rooted in what is happening around the world at present. It is about the covert ac- tions governments take wherever refugees are on the move, in order to un- cover the terrorists among them. By quoting newspa- per articles, which reported that Malta was the initial stopover of the terrorists who caused havoc in Eu- rope, Attard makes his story credible. A top secret agency SIKTA, aided by an Ameri- can Intelligence officer is created to stop acts of ter- rorism before they happen. Its codename is Falcon's Talons or Difrejn il-Falkun, and it comes directly under the jurisdiction of the Presi- dent of Malta. The members of this agency are highly in- telligent and extremely mo- tivated. Difrejn il-Falkun by Richard Attard TWO sisters from opposing worlds arrive in Malta on a black Spanish warship, shortly after the Great Siege. Their fictional story will be told through an innovative contemporary perfor- mance which combines contemporary music, dance and visual art, taking place at the Valletta Campus Theatre on Saturday 31st of August at 9pm. Tickets are available from kultura.mt. BlackShip, part of the Valletta Cultural Agen- cy's MusiCity initiative, is a fantasy inspired by historical events, revolving around two soul sis- ters who are brought up and trained by a Knight of the Order of Saint John, who protected them after their mother's death in Rhodes. The elder one is said to be the daughter of Jean Parisot de Valette whilst the younger one claims Dragut Reis as her father. These two figures symbolise the union of two opposing polarities; a union which survives through the centuries, echoing the building and development of the city of Valletta and of Malta as a melting pot where cultures meet and mingle in harmony. Led by a narrator, the story is brought to life through the combination of several elements on stage: the use of traditional acoustic piano and synthesizer, and electric and acoustic guitar; contemporary fusion dance and projected visual images. This aesthetic combines different experiences, bringing to the stage a performance which joins past and future, connecting retro and futuristic nuances with historical inheritance. BlackShip uses a contemporary hybrid lan- guage of music, dance and visuals to explore important social issues which have affected in- dividuals within societies throughout history and are still very present today, underlining the importance of historical knowledge in order to build a better future. Visit and follow the Valletta Cultural Agency's Facebook page for more information and up- dates on upcoming events and projects. Contemporary performance to take audience back to Valletta's early days Books THE title of this workshop is inspired by the book of American professor W. J. T. Mitchell who informed the practice of many artists working with visual culture today. The point of departure is the feel-good factor embod- ied in most images on social media and advertisement in order to make us hopeful and optimistic about a good and better future, and even- tually buy something. Whether walking out in the street, catching the bus, or connecting online we all relate to images. They stim- ulate our perceptions as we try to fit the ideal represen- tation of what is defined as attractive, good, and if pos- sible better than anyone else. The colours and textures used in commercial or fash- ion imageries leave a good impact on our feelings and decisions, but what do col- ours mean? Who decides the meaning of colours? And why do certain colours maintain their value and meaning across time and cultures? Departing from Sara Cwy- nar's artworks, currently on display at Blitz as part of her solo show Good Life, the children will engage in a cre- ative exercise and envision the good life. Using the col- lage technique, they will pre- sent their envisioned world in a non-linear narrative. By utilising and manipulat- ing found imagery and dif- ferent materials, the focus will be on the use of colour and the contrast of visual and tactile texture. The workshop will be led by Kristina Borg, a visual art- ist and an art educator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and a Mas- ter's degree in Visual Arts and Curatorial Studies. Her interdisciplinary research-practice focuses on socio-political issues in urban-collective spaces, in dialogue with the commu- nity and/or the place. Borg placed first in the 3rd edition of Divergent Thinkers, Mal- ta and she forms part of the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators. She collaborated in a num- ber of local and international projects as artist, curator, exhibition designer and pro- ject manager. The workshop is open for children aged six to 12. Participation is free how- ever booking is essential as places are limited. Book by sending an email to: con- tact@thisisblitz.com with names and ages. All materi- als provided. Blitz is an independent, not-for-profit, project space which supports experimental and radical arts practice in all its forms. Blitz is a space to develop ideas, build relation- ships and nurture creative talent. Blitz operates within a four-level, 400-year-old Val- letta townhouse, which has been repurposed into a site for residencies, exhibitions and education, and a social space for the creative and the curious. Blitz is a curated space with a focus on contempo- rary existence, its constant state of flux, and the ubiqui- tous presence of digital cul- ture. Our mission is to work closely with artists, curators, writers and researchers who are articulating these trends through cross-media and trans-disciplinary practice. Blitz is supported by Arts Council Malta through a Cultural Partnership Agree- ment. The Blitz Residency Programme is supported by the Valletta 2018 Founda- tion. Images and the feel-good factor embodied within