Anyone driving across Gozo in recent weeks may have noticed a new feature on the roundabout in Triq San Leonardu, in the limits of Xaghra.

Two contemporary steel structures now rise from the site, immediately catching the eye. Together, they form – Encounter – a public artwork by Gozitan artist Christopher Saliba, funded through the Ministry for Gozo and Planning’s Public Art Scheme.

It was explained that the sculpture is part of the Ministry’s wider effort to support public art as a way of improving Gozo’s open spaces, strengthening the island’s cultural identity, and making contemporary artistic work more visible in everyday settings.

The artist said that ”in Encounter, this aim is reflected in a piece that takes inspiration from Gozo’s prehistoric monoliths and is presented through modern and abstracted forms.”

Saliba explained that ”Encounter features a minimalist design, stands 2.5 metres high, and is crafted from corten steel. The sculpture evokes the convergence between past and present, symbolising a timeline of progress and the continuous flow of industrial, technological, and scientific innovation.”

It is the first of four new sculptures that will be installed across Gozo and will join more than 13 existing public artworks that continue to enrich the island’s cultural landscape.

For more information, one may visit Christopher Saliba’s website: www.malteseartist.com

Photo: Encounter by Christopher Saliba

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