Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/608340
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2015 33 This Week what the world needs at the moment' nale was being held to attract and challenge ideas of different races, religions, approaches, cultures. We have welcomed big names not only from Europe, including the Nobel-prize winner Dario Fo, but also authorities in the art scenes in Chile, China, Russia and organisations like Caravan, ArtNaked and the Musée Rodin in Paris. What has the collaboration between the various entities that comprise the Biennale been like? As with any ambitious project, it took time, patience and a lot of convincing to bring key players on board. The Mdina Cathedral Chapter has been particularly collaborative and open to ideas that challenged those usually as- sociated with such an institution. The Chapter not only offered all its venues, which are not usually open to the public, but it em- braced wholeheartedly the rebirth of the Biennale with its different dimension, welcoming different believers and non-believers to exhibit their expressions of art in, no less than the Mdina Cathedral and Museum. Mind you, all this has been studied and carried out careful with a lot of respect towards all that is sacred. But they allowed it to happen nonetheless. This is a huge message to the world par- ticularly during these troubling times when violence is being jus- tified in the name of religion. The Biennale, standing at the meeting point of East and West, North and South, with all the religions and lack of them in between, sends out the message that where there is goodwill and dialogue, even divergent cultures can sit together with great respect and understanding of each other. What would you say are some of the significant visual arts highlights at the Biennale this year? I can assure you that every work of art has been studied and scru- tinised carefully, not only for its relevance to the theme but equal- ly important for its artistic value. Artists travelled from all over the world to propose their works. This is their passion, their love, their expression, their soul. They are very possessive of their crea- tion, and rightly so. Because there was another message I wanted to communicate through this Bien- nale, every artist is self-funded; as difficult as it was, I didn't want this Biennale to be another com- mercial platform, a money-spin- ner and this created huge strains on everyone concerned. So you can imagine how painful it was for me as artistic director, to having established an excellent relationship with an artist, agree or disagree with his expression of art, acknowledge the expense he would have incurred to propose his work and having to commu- nicate in certain circumstances that the work did not fit with the Biennale's objectives. After this uncomfortable exer- cise, I can assure you that every piece of art is special in its own way and it would be very unfair to point certain artists over others. For sure, this Biennale offers every medium of expression from oil paintings, to acrylics, sculptures, installations, video art and digital media. In parallel, we have a full calendar of events with performing arts, debates, workshops, talks and seminars by international authorities in the art world. Given that the Biennale is taking place in Mdina – a well-preserved baroque jewel of a city – are you worried that the art may be overshadowed by the surroundings? How did you set about tackling this? Mdina as a location is a big challenge. The whole old capi- tal has a character of its own, needing no decorations. On the contrary, unless you are sensi- tive to its artistic architecture, it is very easy to slip into big eyesores that jar with the feel of the city. Integrating all these contemporary pieces of art, by no fewer than 110 artists from 27 countries including Malta, into the surroundings and high- ly prestigious décor and art in all the exhibition venues was a great challenge that caused me sleepless nights and endless dis- cussions with the artists. Tough job… as my role was not to please anyone but to convey the Biennale's message in the most artistically expression. This was not a white gallery wall where you install a framed picture. Finally, I think, together with my team we have created a space and a final result that chal- lenges people to look at Mdina in a different way. These are, of course, sensitive times for interfaith dialogue. Do you hope the Biennale will somehow help in this regard? This is a sad period in the his- tory of humankind where inter- faith dialogue is fading and giv- ing way to violence and hatred. Art comes from the soul and it communicates peacefully. With- out imposing itself, it transmits love and beauty. It is what the world needs at the moment. APS Bank is the Main Partner of the Mdina Cathedral Contem- porary Art Biennale which runs until January 7. For more infor- mation visit mdinabiennale.org Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci • Photo by Ray Attard The Biennale will be taking place across various venues in Mdina, among them St Paul's Cathedral • Photo by Jean-Christophe Benoist "This is a huge message to the world particularly during these troubling times when violence is being justified in the name of religion"