The Malta Independent on Sunday
‘Visions of Antiquity Gala’, a night of splendour
By now, unless you’ve been fast asleep for a long time, you know exactly what MICAS stands for and what it is. Let me remind you. In brief, The Malta International Contemporary Art Space, according to its chairperson, (I Get Things done) Phyllis Muscat: “The Malta International Art Space will not simply be defined by its footprint of over 14,000 sq metres of internal and external galleries and sculpture gardens, but more so by its ethos of proactive engagement with the local and international art communities and audiences. MICAS is fully committed to its international remit, to exhibit cutting edge art, to validate contemporary art in Malta and to raise the visibility of artists’ contribution to the development of the contemporary idiom. Since the launch of the MICAS concept in 2018, we have worked hard to build connections and establish international networks and partnerships. The 2022 MICAS International Art Weekend and Gala Dinner are testament to this.”
MICAS is a Government of Malta Infrastructural legacy project for the Culture and the Arts sector. It is part-financed by the European Union.
The buildings are situated behind the Malta Police Headquarters in Floriana. I had never ventured there until MICAS was launched in 2018. I was totally blown away to discover such a historical place which lay more or less abandoned until MICAS took it in hand. The area is associated with the Ospizio which has its own fascinating history. Work at the Ospizio continues unabated and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. We are talking of 14,000 sq. metres here not a mere block of ugly flats.
Work on other fronts continues. Last year MICAS gave us Cristina Iglesias’ Sea Cave, which was commissioned as a site-specific piece and can be visited at Hastings Gardens in Valletta.
This year there was another International Art Weekend and Gala dinner. This is now firmly fixed in October’s social calendar.
Before cocktails and dinner in the ballroom of The Phoenicia Malta, guests met at Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta
for the unveiling of a new sculptural artwork, The Palm Goddess for Malta by Michele Oka Doner, the renowned American artist. If you haven’t seen it then lookout for it when you next go to Valletta. You cannot miss it and it is truly very special.
The gala dinner was hosted by the chairperson and board of MICAS including culture ambassador Francis Sultana.
After the launch, as we entered the ballroom of the Phoenicia, we were immediately struck by its air of mystery and romance. It looked like a still-life painting. I almost expected to see two game birds and a skull appear somewhere to complete the painting. It had been completely transformed by Luke Azzopardi with artist Victor Agius creating the centrepieces. Guests were seated at banqueting tables placed from one end of the ballroom to the stage. Lights were
dim and there was an impressive amount of foliage and flowers both on the tables, the stage and wherever it was possible to place them. I doubt the ballroom has ever looked so splendid.
This was a cosmopolitan gathering. During cocktails I had spoken to at least three curators of famous American museums and art gallaries.
Sartorially, everyone rose to the occasion. Many men wore dinner jacket. At least three women on my end of the table wore Luke Azzopardi creations. He looks to fashion as an art object. Marie Hélėne Gondram, who had relocated to Malta recently, wore vintage Chanel, a dress she has had for some 20 years she told me.
The beautifully printed menus displayed an array of promising
dishes. The majority enjoyed celeriac and truffle velouté, poached lobster risotto, local fish with a prawn and fennel velouté and chocolate beignet, mango sorbet and petit fours. We couldn’t have been happier, and all paired with some excellent wines. There was a Vegan menu too.
All the while on the stage, in turns, there was soprano Gillian Zammit and the Cordia string quartet, Alexandra Alden and her band and the sister-duo, The New Victorians. I have to admit that this modern music is simply not for me. Like everything else music is a matter of taste. I have always been an admirer of Gillian and her bel canto is more my kind of music. But all on that stage are gifted with full agendas to perform here, there and everywhere all the
while busy creating new albums.
To complete the International Art Weekend the artist gave a talk the following day at the Museum of Archaeology.
A great deal of hard work goes behind these events. How satisfying it must be for the board of MICAS and those involved that all went so smoothly and everyone went away with another happy memory as we move a step further into bringing Malta nearer to the contemporary art world.