The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, together with the Valletta Cultural Agency is presenting It’s All Paperwork, an exhibition of works carved in the Maltese Globigerina Limestone by sculptor Antoine Farrugia.
Taking place at the Parliament Building and under the auspices of the Hon. Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia, the exhibition will be open to the public from the 29th November to the 11th December from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday and from 9am to 12pm during weekends and public holidays.
The elegant subtlety of the fourteen ‘paper’ works on display reveal a strong element of trompe l’oeil, an artistic term for objects that appear real on a two-dimensional surface.
Minister for National Heritage, the and Local Government Hon. Owen Bonnici said: “These activities strengthen the artistic and cultural aspects by highlighting our limestone as a very important resource as well as showcasing the innovative use of this natural material in such cultural events.”
“We will continue to invest in our culture in order to support the creative and cultural sectors. Through such efforts, we continue fulfilling our mission to expose our local cultural and creative industries further,” Dr Bonnici said.
Shadow Minister for Self-Employed and SMEs Hon. Robert Cutajar said that “the Parliament building is serving as a showcase for the Maltese artist. Although we are a small country, the abilities of the Maltese artist are great”. He said that projects such as this one present us with an opportunity to make use of this building which does not only serve for the legislative aspect, but also for both the Maltese public as well as foreigners who visit our country to admire all that is Maltese”. Robert Cutajar thanked artist Antoine Farrugia, saying that thanks to him, the people who will visit this exhibition can appreciate Maltese stone and above all the abilities of the Maltese artist.
Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Mr Jason Micallef said: “This exhibition is another affirmation of our commitment to support quality”. He highlighted the genuine artistic creativity in Farrugia’s work which requires much attention and respect. “It is an honour for the Valletta Cultural Agency to present such art pieces to the public for they are truly unique,” Mr Micallef said.
Antoine Farrugia’s extraordinary talent and skill are indisputable. He hails from Mqabba, a locality renowned for limestone quarrying where Farrugia’s father and other family members used towork for decades, sparking the sculptor’s love affair with Globigerina Limestone.
View the exhibition catalogue here.
