1 comment.Art Project Ggantija – Magical evening at Ggantija Temples
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
On Friday evening ‘Art Project Ggantija 2013,’ an exciting contemporary art and music event was hosted by Heritage Malta at the Ggantija Temples UNESCO World Heritage Site.
‘Art Project Ggantija 2013,’ was described as a “quality cultural and educational event that featured a manifestation of primodial art through contemporary media.”
A large audience of all ages attended the event and were able to experience wonderful music and art in the backdrop of this beautiful setting. Refreshments were also available for those present.
Artist Victor Agius and Composer Mariella Cassar, both from Gozo, joined forces after having worked separately on various artistic projects both in Malta and abroad. The first event on Friday evening consisted of a live performance of musical work performed by Ars Vitae Ensemble, together with sculptures and interventions installed inside the Ggantija temples.
Later during the year, an exhibition will be held in Valletta showcasing the documentation of the performance executed in the Temples and other installations linked with the project. Besides these events the artist and the composer will also organise educational initiatives through hands-on activities and workshops that will involve students coming from different schools in Malta and Gozo.
The passion of two individuals for art and music gave birth to Ars Vitae Ensemble – literally, art is life. Victor Agius and composer and musician, Mariella Cassar, joined forces to intertwine music and art and present a series of events based on contemporary art and music composition fused with cultural, social and historical concepts.
The ensemble will also strive to combine aspects of multiculturalism to its projects and also create educational initiatives through hands-on activities and workshops that involve various sections of the community to attract newcomers to the field of contemporary art and music.
Victor Agius studied at the University of Malta from where he got a degree in Art. He furthered his studies at the International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture in Perugia, Italy and at the Central Saint Martin’s College for Art and Design in London. Agius has had his works exhibited at the Opus 64 Galerie, St. James Cavalier and the Auberge d’Italie in Malta, and internationally in Lago Maggiore, Venice, Padova and Florence amongst others. He has also participated in several notable group exhibitions held in Oxford and London in the UK, Paris, Santo Domingo and Rome.
Agius works in painting, sculpture and installation. Raw clay, ceramics, stones, straw, twigs and branches, earth, natural pigments, oils and acrylics are some of the elements which he uses to create his bodies of work oriented around formless matter.
Mariella Cassar began her studies at a young age in violin and theory under the guidance of Mro. Joachim Atanasov and later under the tuition of Ms. Marcelle Bartolo Abela and Mro. Laurence Borg. She holds a degree in Music Education. In 2005 she was awarded the M.Phil (Music) from the Mediterranean Institute, University of Malta. She decided to further her studies at Dartington College of Arts, UK, where is she currently reading for a PhD in Composition under the tutorship of Dr Christopher Best and Dr Trevor Wiggins.
Her works vary from solo, ensemble to full-orchestra composition. Cassar has been member of jury in a number of international singing festivals. Cassar’s works have been performed in Malta, Manchester, Bristol, Florence, Montepulciano, Austria, Prague and Indonesia.
These activities aim to attract newcomers to the fields of contemporary art and music. This project is being curated by Dr. Vince Briffa M.A. (Leeds), Ph.D. (UCLan) a practicing contemporary multi-media artist and Head of Department of Digital Art at the University of Malta.
Other musicians who contributed to this event were Emese Toth and David Lang, Simon Abdilla Joslin, Gisele Grima, Alistair Attard, Alan Cordina, Renzo Spiteri and Miriam Cauchi.
The Ggantija 2013 Project, hosted by Heritage Malta, is supported by the Malta Arts Fund, Banif Bank (Malta) plc, GasanMamo Insurance, The Janatha Stubbs Foundation, Xaghra Local Council, Abraham’s Supplies and the Gozo Culture and Information Office.
Photographs – Top set by Alain Salvary. Photographs of Victor Agius and Mariella Cassar by Photography ©2013 Daniel Cilia.
Well Done to whoever participated in the organisation of this event, especially the Artists Victor Agius and Mariella Cassar. It was an unforgettable experience!! A unique environment which was further enhanced with the music, exhibition and the way the features of the temple were highlighted with the light effects. Thanks above all to Heritage Malta for making this experience possible.