The human body in Maltese art

Abstract

As part of the Lifestyle & Culture segment, author Nikki Petroni writes about the representation of the human body in Art. The struggle in liberating the ‘nude’ is mapped within a wider historical context, from the idealized standard set by the Antiquity to the revolutionary developments post-19th century. His article discusses a constellation of international and local Artists that were considered scandalous, offensive and pornographic for producing works that explored gender & sexuality. He also maps the development of the Maltese Modernists and the evolving moral-social balance when it comes to accepting radical art in Malta. The article features works of Carmelo Mangion, William Apap and Ceasar Attard.