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20 THIS WEEK CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK TEODOR RELJIC EARLIER this week Valletta 2018 unveiled the designs of a contempo- rary artistic installation Prospettiva – to be erected at the foot of Ġlormu Cassar Avenue, in Valletta (close to St James ditch). Chairman of the jury Prof. Richard England introduced Prospettiva, an installation by Architect Chris Brif- fa which was chosen in a competi- tion among five Maltese contempo- rary artists who were shortlisted for the project. In Chris Briffa's words, Valletta is a collection of eras, a summation of times on which layers of architec- ture pay homage to its stylistic pre- occupations and ambitions. Pros- pettiva seeks to revisit the memories of one of Valletta's most iconic and controversial sites – Bieb il-Belt – by means of an architectural perform- ance engaging in perspective and apparition. "The European Capital of Culture in Malta in 2018 gives citizens of Valletta and Malta the opportunity to explore different ways of cultural expression and do so in ways which are innovative and contemporary. The Foundation intended to de- velop a project which was a tangible manifestation of this process, and a contemporary artistic installation in a public space, which allowed and encouraged people to interact with it, even physically, was identified as an excellent means of doing so. The tradition of installations is a long one, even in the context of Europe- an Capitals of Culture, and Prospet- tiva, with its local idiom and inter- national craft, allows Valletta 2018 to make a relevant statement about who we are and where we're going in preparing for 2018," a representative of Valletta 2018 said. The installation is a temporal collage, juxtaposing the seminal changes in Valletta's lifetime while highlighting its forthcoming agen- das of European Capital of Culture. The structure will consist of con- crete and steel and will include a horizontal ground slab to support vertical panels on 18 points of con- tact. The area around the installa- tion will be landscaped. Maximum attention has been paid to health and safety measures, as well as sus- tainability and maintenance. Chris Briffa explained how the five historic gates were studied, draught- ed and reinterpreted into a singular 2D icon; which was subsequently disassembled into different planes and anamporphic projections. "Prospettiva is an analogy to the importance of the combined effort needed from a variety of localities and people in the creation of a co- herent whole. A joint success which is deeply rooted in its legacy," he said. Asked to specify what kind of light the project sheds on the previous Bieb il-Belt gates, the Valletta 2018 Foundation pointed out that Renzo Piano's door makes it the fifth time that the Valletta gate, and that stone sentry has been adapted, every time reflecting the socio-political con- text of its period. "Each was a novel attire for its time and this change has always come at the expense of its predecessor. De- spite the fact that the previous gates are physically absent, they will be ever-present in Valletta's memory. Prospettiva therefore revisits ele- ments alluding to former gates while celebrating achievement and change in a time of peace," the representa- tive said, adding that, "in a similar way to Valletta 2018, Prospettiva performs at one precise moment in time when the sum of its parts reaches a climax in the creation of a landmark event. "The installation presents what at first glance seem deconstructed ruins which slowly converge to a tangible form when one approaches them from City Gate. Only a correct perspective will offer the whole pic- ture". To stay updated with Valletta 2018, log on to: facebook.com/Vallet- ta2018; twitter.com/Valletta_2018 Chris Briffa's installation was chosen by a jury made up of Prof. Richard England, Rupert Cefai and Carlo Schembri Valletta's many city gates headline new V18 installation Artist's impression of the Prospettiva installation