Dr Raphael Vella, from the Faculty of Education, will be part of a team curating the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2017. The event will be held between 13 May and 26 November 2017.
Dr Vella will curate the exhibition themed Homo Melitensis: An incomplete inventory in 19 chapters, together with German artist-curator and filmmaker Bettina Hutschek. The two artist-curators will create a poetic compilation of unique things that supposedly define the imaginary of the Maltese identity. The exhibition will be designed in collaboration with an architectural team led by Tom Van Malderen (Architecture Project) as well as transmedia expert Stefan Kolgen.
The winning project for the curator/curatorial team was unanimously selected by a jury committee, which included high profile international names and local expertise on the culture sector. The Malta Pavilion is commissioned by Arts Council Malta in collaboration with MUŻA, Heritage Malta, under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice, Culture and Local Government. The Malta Pavilion in Venice will also form part of the cultural programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2017.
Dr Vella has a vast experience as curator and artist and has exhibited his work both in Malta and overseas. He stated that he is honoured to be appointed curator—together with his colleague—with the proposal of Homo Melitensis.