Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/709569
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 31 JULY 2016 30 This Week THE story behind the city of Val- letta is not only one of knights, buildings and historical happen- ings but a story of the people of Malta, Maltese society and the life of all those who in these last 450 years inhabited or walked the streets of the city – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – built dur- ing the baroque period. The exhi- bition Melita Renascens seeks to explore all these aspects in what has now become synonymous of Heritage Malta that is an exhibi- tion of international standards from socio-didactical purposes right down to the design. Valletta 1566, Melita Renascens is a first in its nature especially due to the innovative set-up split between two venues, namely the National Library and the site of the former National War Muse- um at Fort St Elmo. "It is impor- tant to stress that these are not two complimentary stand-alone exhibitions but one story-line split between two venues. Having said this, a person visiting only one of the two venues will not get the full picture but on the other hand will get enough information with regard to one of the aspects of the vast history of Valletta. It's one exhibition with two venues but each venue has a beginning and an end. Both venues share the same catalogue, design and general concept," Godwin Vella, Heritage Malta's Head Curator, said. The challenge presented when thinking of the general concept of such an exhibition was not only linked to Valletta's history spanning 450 years but also to the fact that such an exhibition has to represent the development of the life and culture of the Maltese islands in these four and a half centuries. "Valletta was the gate- way to Malta. It was not simply the capital city. Anyone arriving or leaving Malta did this through Valletta with Porta del Monte (Victoria Gate) serving as the main entrance. In this area you had the customs, the works reg- istry, the health inspection office and also a number of large ware- houses which are still present till this very day. It was today's air- port and today's Freeport if you like." "The concept of the design of the exhibition is to replicate the grid layout of Valletta, a new and modern concept for the 16th cen- tury. Thus, as much as possible the visitor will visit the exhibition by walking through 'streets' with the artifacts and their furniture serving as the building blocks. The exhibition is divided into eleven 'chapters', each chapter in turn divid- ed into themes and sub-themes, thus the whole exhibition will be reflecting what Valletta rep- resented in the past and what it represents today," Pierre Bonel- lo, the manager in charge of the design of the exhibition, added. When setting up such an exhi- bition, Heritage Malta seeks to choose the most apt artifacts to display and this could be rather challenging when holding an ex- hibition incorporating four and a half centuries of history. "We tried to give importance to cer- tain objects which are most of the time overlooked by the pub- lic, such as the Chinese vases we normally find at the Palace and which are in reality gifts which were given to the Grandmas- ter of the time. Through these artifacts we in- tend showing all facets of the magnificent city which is our capital, that is the physical ambi- ence, the politi- cal and admin- istrative role of Valletta (for most of the 450 years the islands were g o v e r n e d from Val- letta) and the social life within the city walls right up to the contem- porary." Bonello also c o m m e n t e d on the scope of these kinds of events. "Setting- up such exhibi- tions are always a big challenge, espe- cially since all the work involved is carried out by the same staff that has to maintain all the other muse- ums and sites, which adds further pressure. Installing one 'chapter' at the National Library increases such pressure even more, because staff must be divided in two to- tally different areas. Innovation is always present but not in the same dosage. The size and struc- tural limitations at both venues restrict us a bit, however the visi- tor is guaranteed that his experi- ence will be a very fulfilling one, both academically and aestheti- cally," Bonello added. The exhibition is being held at the National Library and the Former National War Museum at lower Fort St Elmo, and will remain open for a whole year. For more information about Melita Renascens and other events or- ganized by Heritage Malta, log on to www.heritagemalta.org or fol- low their official Facebook page. Ambitious exhibition commemorates Valletta's varied history "Valletta was the gateway to Malta. It was not simply the capital city" Heritage Malta's forthcoming major exhibition, in collaboration with Malta Libraries, commemorates the 450th anniversary since the laying of the first stone of the city of Valletta a half centuries of history. "We tried to give importance to cer- tain objects which are most of the time overlooked by the pub- lic, such as the Chinese vases we normally find at the Palace and which are in reality gifts which were given to the Grandmas- ter of the time. Through these artifacts we in- tend showing all facets of the magnificent city which is our capital, that is the physical ambi- ence, the politi- cal and admin- on the scope of these kinds of events. "Setting- up such exhibi- tions are always a big challenge, espe- cially since all the work involved is carried out by the same staff that has to maintain all the other muse- ums and sites, which adds further pressure. Installing one 'chapter'