Benvenuto Saba (b. 1956) was born in Siamanna, Italy, but then moved to the Tuscan region of Versilia, where he still lives. He graduated in 1976 from the Art Institute "Stagio Stagi" of Pietrasanta (Lucca), and from the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara in 1983 with a diploma in sculpture and photography. He works both as a design photographer and as a sculptor. Saba has collaborated with prominent designers like Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari and Angelo Mangiarotti, and has been working with leading Italian designers and producers of modern furniture. Saba's works are on display in major Italian and foreign collections.
Monika Grycko currently lives and works in Faenza, Italy. She graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Warsaw University and the Academy of Fine Arts in 1998, under the supervision of Prof. Grzegorz Kowaski. She has had a number of solo exhibitions, such as; 'Fatal Attraction', Centre of Contemporary Art, Warsaw (1999); 'Movimento extremo', Rebecca Container Gallery, Genova (2005); 'Transplantman', Kunstraum B Gallery, Kiel, Germany (2006); 'Biancaneve', Musikcafe, Art Stays 2011 – 9th Festival of Contemporary Art, Ptuj, Slovenia (2011); 'Hybrids-duo show', Galerie Helenbeck, Nice (2011). She was awarded the International Arte Laguna Prize 2009, Venice.
A series of events such as concerts, literary evenings and performances by local and international artists will be held throughout the duration of the Mdina Biennale.
The events calendars for the months of November and December 2015, and January 2016 may be found by clicking on this link.
The dates and locations of the events are subject to change.
Highly-anticipated event welcomes pieces by top international artists, including Italy's Dario Fo, Germany's von Cube and China's Adam Chang
Mdina will soon step back in time to embrace its multicultural past, with the launch of the city's eagerly-anticipated Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale, which will be held between 13 November 2015 and 7 January 2016, with APS Bank as its main partner.
This rebirth edition of the Mdina Biennale will take a radically-different approach to art and religion, and is being hailed as a bridge between different cultures, faiths and, even, non-faiths.
The theme, Christianity, Spirituality and the Other, as well as the new conceptual direction for the event, has been developed by artist, art critic and academic
Dr Giuseppe Schembri-Bonaci, who is the artistic director of the Biennale. Harking back to the Mdina Biennale's roots in the 1990s, it will provide a spiritual space for creativity, and will feature thought-provoking and high-quality artworks by top artists from no less than 25 countries around the world.
"We are thrilled to announce that the Mdina Biennale has attracted some very high-calibre names from both the national and international art world," says Dr Schembri-Bonaci.
The long list of artists features close to names from across the artistic disciplines. Local artists include Richard England, Mark England, Vince Briffa, Patrick Dalli, Paul Haber, Pierre Portelli, Anna Grima, Sina Micallef Farrugia, Anthony Micallef, Victor Spiteri and James Micallef Grimaud.
Other international works are by Dario Fo, Francesco Infante, Adam Dix, Michael von Cube, Valera Loredana Longo, Silvia Camporesi, Denis Pondruel, Christian Jaccard, Bernard Cousinier, Gildas Le Reste, Frederique Lucien, Philippe Desloubieres, Vincent Come, Patrice Pantin, Kacha Legrand, Nicola Arkell, James Alec Hardy, Richard Shields and Natala and Valerya Cherkashin.
The Biennale will also present a full calendar of musical, literary and audiovisual events, with performances by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra's chief conductor Brian Schembri, composers Karl Fiorini, Reuben Pace and Albert Garzia, actor Pino Scicluna, and contemporary dance creations by Francesca Abela Tranter, as well as collaborations with Caravan and Artnaked.
Caravan is a trans-cultural initiative which organises a multitude of arts events with the intention of creating peaceful dialogue between diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Caravan will be coordinating a number of projects for the Mdina Biennale, including the Maltese Donkey sculptural installation and a series of concerts.
ARTNAKED is a London-based curatorial organisation which creates numerous events, exhibitions, performances, radio podcasts and literary and academic events. A group of contemporary artists from London and beyond will be participating in the Mdina Biennale under the management of ARTNAKED.
"Mdina has been a city of art for centuries. We are thrilled to showcase that history and to bring more art than ever within its fortified walls," says Dr Schembri-Bonaci. "Now, at this key moment in our own modern era, we are proud to celebrate diversity through art and encourage interfaith dialogue whenever possible. All art is spiritual, and that is the message that we want to pass on to the many visitors that we hope will enjoy this Biennale in the months to come."
For more, regularly-updated information on the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale 2015, please visit http:www.mdinabiennale.org.
This press release was published in MaltaToday on 7 October 2015. The article may be found here.
It was published online on the following websites: http://josannecassar.com/events/mdina-biennale-to-celebrate-former-capitals-multicultural-history/
http://indulge.com.mt/mdina-biennale-to-celebrate-multicultural-history/
'Culture Vulture: Art is Served' is the Mdina Biennale radio programme aired on Campus FM 103.7 - the University of Malta radio station.
All shows aired from September 2014 to January 2015 may be found through the Campus FM website by following this link.
Currently, recordings are taking place for the second series of 'Culture Vulture'.
Programme topics include:
Interviews with artists participating in the Mdina Biennale
Discussions on the Mdina Biennale's theme
Discussions on art and culture by the Mdina Biennale management
13 November 2013 - The Malta Independent - The Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale
23 April 2014 - MaltaToday - Mdina Biennale's first social event
30 April - The Times of Malta - Mdina Biennale's first social event
24 April 2014 - The Malta Independent - Mdina Biennale's first social event
24 May 2015 - The Malta Independent on Sunday - 2015 Mdina Cathedral Biennale taking shape quickly
6 August 2015 - Artdaily.org - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale to be held from 13 November 2015 to 7 January 2016
8 September 2015 - L-Orizzont - Applikazzjonijiet ghal kompozizzjoni ghal kuncert
parti mill-Imdina Biennale
9 September 2015 - MaltaToday - Call for composition applications for Mdina Biennale concert
11 September 2015 - MaltaToday - Mdina Biennale hosts rare collection of Dario Fo works
12 September 2015 - josannecassar.com - Mdina Biennale hosts rare collection of Dario Fo works
14 September 2015 - newsbook.com.mt - Pitturi ta' Dario Fo ghall-Biennale tal-Imdina
27 September 2015 - Sunday Times of Malta - Call for composition competition for Mdina Biennale concert
3 October 2015 - The Artiscape - Christianity, Spirituality and the Other
7 October 2015 - MaltaToday - Mdina Biennale to celebrate former capital's multicultural history
7 October 2015 - indulge.com.mt - Mdina Biennale to celebrate multicultural history
8 October 2015 - josannecassar.com - Mdina Biennale to celebrate former capital's multicultural history
11 Ocrober 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Mdina Biennale to celebrate former capital's multicultural history
12 October 2015 - In-Nazzjon - L-Imdina Biennale ticcelebra l-istorja multikulturali tal-kapitali l-qadima
15 October 2015 - The Malta Business Weekly - Mdina Biennale to celebrate former capital's multicultural history
20 October 2015 - Blouin Artinfo - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale 2015
21 October 2015 - L-Orizzont - L-Imdina Bjennale ticcelebra l-istorja multikulturali
27 October 2015 - josannecassar.com - The Mediterranean peace donkey
28 October 2015 - newsbook.com.mt - 21 hmar simbolu tal-bzonn tal-paci
29 October 2015 - L-Orizzont - Hmar tal-pace fl-Imdina
1 November 2015 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Victoria pupils' 'peace donkey'
1 November 2015 - gozonews.com - Victoria Primary students paint a Mediterranean Peace Donkey
8 November 2015 - It-Torca - L-Imdina Biennali tilqa' xoghlijiet rari ta' Dario Fo
12 November 2015 - gozonews.com - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale opens on Friday
12 November 2014 - newsbook.com.mt - Il-Kapitali l-qadima b'arti gdida
13 November 2015 - Times of Malta - Old capital of new art
13 November 2015 - L-Orizzont - Il-kapitali l-qadima b'arti gdida
14 November 2015 - independent.com.mt - MPO performs 20 year old Euchar Gravina' Stabat Mater as APS Bank concert opens the Mdina Biennale
14 November 2015 - netnews.com.mt - L-Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali ttella' Stabat Mater ta' Euchar Gravina
15 Novmeber 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Mdina: the old capital of new art
15 November 2015 - MaltaToday - Contemporary Art Biennale kicks off in Mdina
15 November 2015 - It-Torca - Il-kuncert tal-Bank APS jiftah l-Imdina Biennale
16 November 2015 - In-Nazzjon - Arti minn 27 pajjiz fil-Biennali tal-Imdina
16 November 2015 - In-Nazzjon - Lista twila ta' artisti mill-oqsma kollha tal-arti
17 November 2015 - newsbook.com.mt - Żagħżugħ Malti ta' 20 sena jniedi album ta' mużika sagra
18 November 2015 - inewsmalta.com - L-Istabat Mater ta' Euchar Gravina jiftaħ l-Imdina Biennale 2015
22 November 2015 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Peace donkey exhibition
22 November 2015 - timesofmalta.com - Peace donkey exhibition
22 November 2015 - gozonews.com - Victoria Primary students attend opening of Peace Donkey exhibition
23 November 2015 - Ahram Online - Egyptian donkey sculptures travel to Malta's Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale
25 November 2015 - maltatoday.com.mt - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale hosts two international concerts
25 November 2015 - josannecassar.com - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale hosts two international concerts
25 November 2015 - tvm.com.mt - Poeziji li kitbu t-tfal tal-iskola l-bazi ghal-lirika ta' kuncert illejla fl-Imdina
26 November 2015 - Times of Malta - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale hosting 2 concerts
26 November 2015 - timesofmalta.com - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale hosting 2 concerts
29 November 2015 - The Sunday Times of Malta - International concerts as part of Mdina Biennale
29 November 2015 - The Malta Independent on Sunday - Conference on Josef Kalleya's art and the visual dialogues: Peripheral Alternatives to Rodin in Modern European Sculpture
29 Novemebr 2015 - The Malta Independent on Sunday - Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale hosts two international concerts
30 November 2015 - timesofmalta.com - The Mediterranean Peace Donkey at the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale
3 December 2015 - The Malta Independent - The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra performs 20-year-old's Stabat Mater
3 December 2015 - In-Nazzjon - Xoghol ta' Gulja Holland fil-Biennali tal-Arti
13 December 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Mdina Biennale catalogue order form
13 December 2015 - It-Torca - Mdina Biennale catalogue order form
3 January 2016 - MaltaToday - What's On - Exhibitions - Mdina Biennale
The remodelling of Mdina as a Baroque city is primarily due to the foresight of Grandmaster Anton Manoel de Vilhena, who saw the political advantages of extending the patronage of the Order to the Medieval city.
The French engineer Charles François de Mondion was the person responsible for the realization of the Grandmaster's vision in both the military and civil aspects, including a new line of fortification which reflected modern defence concepts. Most of the works were carried out in the course of five years between 1723 and 1728, including the rebuilding of a large part of the walls, the deepening of the ditch, and the shifting of the new main gate to the left of its original site. The defence ditch is found at the front of the city.
27 November 2013 - MaltaToday - Edging the secular from the religious
18 May 2014 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Are you supersititious? Interview with Nadia Spita from Art Cafe London
29 June 2014 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Windows to the soul. Interview with French artist Denis Pondruel
21 August - The Independent - Valletta travel tips: Where to go and what to see in 48 hours
14 September 2014 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Building bridges through the arts. Interview with Paul-Gordon Chandler from CARAVAN
2 November 2014 - Malta Independent on Sunday - The Mdina Biennale, M.A. Fine Arts and the Gazacide
15 March 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - The Mdina Biennale and me: a debate on art and religion
23 April 2015 - Artribune.com - Malta Confabulations
13 September 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - The importance of critical contemporary art
27 September 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - 'Only a mother understands her mute sons'
4 October 2015 - The Sunday Times of Malta - The Fool, the Atheist and the Spiritual Page 2
4 October 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - The absent and the present
11 October 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Mdina's travelling donkeys
18 October 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Spirituality and Nature: how the Mdina Biennale will challenge some relevant aspects of our contemporary culture
25 October 2015 - The Malta Independent on Sunday - A season of Maltese art
8 November 2015 - The Malta Independent on Sunday - Christianity, spirituality and the body
8 November 2015 - It-Torca - Gjullar ribel fl-Imdina
22 November 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - A simultaneous paradox
27 November 2015 - Times of Malta (Doing business in Malta supplement) - Using wealth to improve the soul of humankind
29 November 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - International conference on Josef Kalleya and modern European sculpture
29 November 2015 - MaltaToday - 'Art is what the world needs at the moment' Page 1
30 November 2015 - maltatoday.com.mt - 'Art is what the world needs at the moment'
6 December 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - A true virtuoso
6 December 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Can art be a response to violence and ignorance?
6 December 2015 - MaltaToday - The worthwhile concept of suffering page 2 page 3
8 December 2015 - maltatoday.com.mt - The worthwhile concept of suffering
13 December 2015 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Reality re-imagined
20 December 2015 - The Sunday Times of Malta - Escape - Searching for the Other
3 January 2016 - Malta Independent on Sunday - Art and sharing after the Mdina Biennale
10 January 2016 - Malta Independent on Sunday - What next for the Mdina Biennale?
Wall Street International Magazine - Christianity, Spirituality and the Other
Kensington and Chelsea Review - The Maltese Tradition
My Malta Magazine (Russia) - November issue
My Malta Magazine (Russia) - December issue
Visual artist, Bernard Cousinier was born in Castres (France) in 1942. He lives and works on Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Val-de-Marne, France).
Whether they are « pass-bulwarks », « pass-volumes », « pass-windows », bows or « pass-plans », Cousinier's works circulate around plans and volumes by incorporating a skillful set of cuts and verticality.
All his pieces are built upon geometrical drawings of the rectangle, and the latter is transformed with the intention of discarding its centripetal quality. These cuttings, produced asymmetrically, create an imbalance in the rectangle which engenders a movement that Cousinier calls the 'pass-plan'.
The encounter with architectural sites is essential for Cousinier to generate an intelligent and sensitive crossing in the thickness of the time of these particular places. His interventions are based on a logic of functioning in a patrimonial frame, by creating a timeless and minimalist work in a spirit which corresponds with colors and angles.
These visual round-trips between Cousinier's paintings and architectural sites invite the viewer to take temporal jumps between contemporaneity and the past.
