Ilma u Melħ exhibition unveiled in Brussels’ Justus Lipsius building

The Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU has unveiled an artistic project named ‘ Ilma u Melħ (Water and Salt) in the atrium of the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, the building that houses the Council of the EU.

Opened by Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, the project is part of a long-standing tradition that sees the incumbent Presidency decorating the building with various exhibitions and installations.

Ilma u Melħ comprises a series of installations – conceptualised, designed and commissioned by Dr Antoine Zammit, Architect Monica Audrey Galea and their team from the Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Malta.

The installations are displayed throughout the Justus Lipsius building, as well as in the new Europa building where technical meetings, ministerial councils and meetings of EU Heads of State or Government are held.

Inspired by the main themes of the Maltese Presidency and reinterpreted in different forms throughout the two buildings in different formats, the installa- tions will be on display throughout the six months of Malta’s Presidency in the first half of 2017.

Deputy Prime Minister Grech remarked that the Maltese artistic representation is apt and topical given that Malta has taken on the Presidency of the Council of the EU at a time in which the Union is facing rough ‘seas’ of its very own.

Malta’s destiny has been linked with, defined by, and his- torically shaped by the Mediterranean. He recalled that in 1967 it was Malta that proposed seabeds and oceans beyond national jurisdiction should be considered as the common heritage of mankind.

Mr Grech emphasised the duality of the Mediterranean, through its characteristics – a source of life, energy, and wellbeing – but also with its dark and tragic sides, having been witness to tragic events related to migration.

Ilma u Melħ will serve as a reminder and as an opportunity to engage through the sharing of stories and ideas, and includes a ‘citizen journalists’ component led by the Artistic Director Arien Berg. This component is aimed at giving the possibility to connect with other peoples’ stories and to share thoughts, ideas or anecdotes, thus contributing to the artistic expression in an active manner.

Mr Grech also referred to Malta’s priorities for the next six months, “We have a focused Presidency, with a short, but targeted agenda. By adding incremental and viable efforts on key issues we can address the overarching principle of reunion: confidence and the restoration of public trust.”

The inauguration was also addressed by Secretary General of the Council Jeppe Tranholm Mikkelsen.