Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545062
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2026 CULTURE FOR the first time in its histo- ry, Malta Biennale 2026 wel- comes the National Pavilion of Armenia, represented by artist Raffi Yedalian with the sculp- tural and sound installation The Sound of What Was Never Seen — a participation that res- onates far beyond the walls of the exhibition space. Presented within the historic setting of Fort St. Elmo, Armenia's debut pavilion offers visitors not sim- ply an artwork, but a profound emotional and philosophical experience rooted in memory, silence, resilience, and rebirth. Curated by Sona Hovhann- isyan, the work unfolds through bronze, water, wood, and sound, creating a meditative environment where silence it- self becomes the primary lan- guage. Yedalian's installation speaks of what often remains unspo- ken: inherited memory, hidden wounds, personal and collective trauma, and the quiet persis- tence of hope. At the bottom of the installa- tion, the artist has placed water, while throughout the venue the sound of falling water drops can be heard — present yet unseen — becoming both an accompa- niment and a unique experience for the visitors. Its continuous presence evokes longing, mem- ory, and all that flows without being perceived, symbolizing the inner voice and rebirth. As the artist notes in his state- ment, the work is "not forged in sound, but in the echo of what remains unspoken." Rather than offering direct ex- planations, the installation in- vites introspection. Visitors are encouraged to slow down, to listen carefully, and to confront emotions that cannot always be articulated through words. In an age saturated with noise and immediacy, The Sound of What Was Never Seen becomes a rare space for stillness and contem- plation. Yet beyond institutional rep- resentation, this pavilion car- ries a deeper symbolic meaning. It marks the arrival of Armenia into this major international cultural platform while simul- taneously reconnecting with traces of Armenian history al- ready embedded in Malta's own cultural landscape. Indeed, during the opening ceremony, a representative of the Armenian Embassy reflect- ed on the centuries-old ties linking the Armenian and Mal- tese peoples. "For us, Armeni- ans, speaking about memory here, on the historic soil of Mal- ta is not merely a philosophical reflection — it is something profoundly tangible. Turning the pages of history in St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Ar- menia's name can still be found engraved among the memorials of knights and officers. These historical links date back to the alliance between the Knights Hospitaller and the Armeni- an Kingdom of Cilicia in the 12th century. Another symbol of this shared history in Malta is the Church of Our Lady of Liesse, associated with the Bail- iff of Armenia Fra Giacomo De Chess du Bellay". Today, those historical bridg- es find a contemporary contin- uation through art. Armenia's first pavilion at the Malta Bien- nale becomes not only an artis- tic milestone, but also an act of cultural dialogue — reminding audiences that memory survives through creativity and that art possesses the unique power to connect nations across time. Within the ancient stone walls of Fort St. Elmo, Yedalian's work quietly accomplishes pre- cisely that. It transforms silence into testimony, fragility into endurance, and memory into a living presence. In doing so, Ar- menia's inaugural participation leaves a powerful and deeply human mark on the Malta Bi- ennale 2026. Artist Raffi Yedalian National Pavilion of Armenia