Towards an Innovative and Modern Sensibility in Art in Gozo 1900-1970 – This on-site lecture, led by Dr Mark Sagona, visiting lecturer in the Department of History of Art, Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta, will highlight changing attitudes and a trend which had picked up considerable momentum, only to be sadly extinguished in the 1970s.

The lecture is part of the programme of events for this year's Festival Mediterranea 2016, and will take place at the Astra Theatre, Victoria, on Saturday, the 12th of November, starting at 8.45am. The price for participation is €5 per person.

A close and informed scrutiny of art in places of worship in Gozo between 1900 and 1970 indicates a subtle awakening to an innovative and modern sensibility.

Among the more conservative nature of the art of Giuseppe Calì (1846-1930) and Lazzaro Pisani (1854-1932), and that of Cali's son Ramiro Raffaele (1881-1945), a handful of young, emerging Maltese artists who had studied abroad, were commissioned to produce a number of works.

The paintings of Gianni Vella (1885-1977), Robert Caruana Dingli (1882-1940), Giuseppe Briffa (1901-1987) and most formidably, those of Emvin Cremona (1919-1987) speak a language which starts opening to new ideas and breaks away with tradition.

Collectively, their works are informed by different doses of influence coming from the Pre-Raphaelites, Art Nouveau and Italian Liberty, Impressionism, to Cremona's own stylised and abstracted manner.

Participants will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions.

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