An analysis of the aesthetic qualities of political public monuments in post-independence Malta

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to provide a comparative and critical analysis of the aesthetic quality of political public monuments representing political figures and events erected after the declaration of Independence in 1964 to contemporary times. This study also aims to trace the development of political public monumental art of the twentieth century and how the artists designated for public commissions were successfully able, in their own interpretation of the 'modern' geist (as understood by Antonio Sciortino‟s monumental aesthetics), to capture the character and spirit of political figures or events. Until now there has been no direct attempt at analyzing the artistic development of political public monuments of the late twentieth century and the situation that arises thereafter. This study has proved to be a challenging and demanding task for me, yet has been a constant motivation in the accumulation of further knowledge and study of this country‟s political public monuments, and provide further insight and appreciation of those Maltese artists who produced the monuments and contributed to our great tradition in monumental art. It is hoped that my research will further enhance the understanding of public monuments and to nourish further research in bringing to light the various aspects of their relevance to Maltese society from a socio-political, economic and artistic point of view.