Weaving contemporary stories

Abstract

In 1991 three authors, then acknowledged to be leading figures within Malta’s cultural scene, homed in on a selection of six modern artists, five of which hailed from Valletta where they also exhibited their work and frequented each other. The foreword to the book Malta: Six Modern Artists, then written by Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, underpins the relevance and significance of this book, which he describes as ‘an awakening of an island community … out of a period of visual and spiritual stagnation’. The book was preceded by a series of lectures presenting each artist in context and a resumé of their artistic journey up to the time. Indeed, it can be said that the book was the direct outcome of this lecture series. From the chosen six, only one – Emvin Cremona – had passed away and all but one were Valletta-born. Much of what was then published was also noted as the outcome of a concerted effort, by both artists and authors, to collect photos and images of works in their repertoire. In his editor’s note, Victor Fenech claims that ‘original works mentioned and/or discussed could not always be traced and photos of them either did not exist or were again poor material for printing.’ The material available was also problematic as the ‘… photos torn out of old albums or prised out of long forgotten boxes at the bottom of drawers…’ [Excerpt]