Arte­facts, con­tem­por­ary art­works meet at upcom­ing Malta Bien­nale

This March sees the second edition of the Malta Biennale come to life over the course of 11 weeks, as local and international artists come together to add new layers to some of the island’s most storied sites.

“Loosely structured” on the template of the classic La Biennale di Venezia, the event combines 42 artists and 29 pavilions sprawled across the entire archipelago. How does this approach fit within the international context of biennials? Artistic director Rosa Martínez believes that the Malta event can contribute to rethinking how biennials can shape aesthetic, cultural and political discourse.

“It does this by promoting the dialogue between heritage sites and contemporary artistic languages. The Biennale is not conceived as a spectacle but as a platform for clearing away noise and fostering an experience of deeper understanding of local narratives in connection with global struggles,” Rosa Martínez says, adding that the islands’ architectural intensity, layered histories and landscapes create a unique context for a biennale.

Artistic director Rosa Martínez

She notes that the venues at the Malta Biennale are not neutral, with each having its own distinct narratives. Thus, artworks cannot simply “occupy” space; they must enter into dialogue with it.

“Every artistic gesture must justify its presence and purpose, not to dilute its meaning. Spectators must make an effort to understand the interconnected meaning between past and present, between historical artifacts and contemporary artworks.”

In this sense, the Malta Biennale approach privileges precision over proliferation, resonance over spectacle, and depth over repetition. This, the artistic director says, is in line with this year’s theme – Clean | Clear | Cut, which aims to question how contemporary art can enhance critical awareness of our past and present, while fostering the experience and enjoyment of beauty.

“We are consciously resisting the mannerisms and superficial strategies that can be found in many international biennales, focusing instead on propositions that reveal, discern, and transform artistic and political consciousness. We are proposing a biennale that fosters thoughtful engagement, rather than visual saturation.”

Of course, working within protected sites must impose real constraints on curatorial and artistic work, with space being limited and every intervention immediately visible. Artist and curator Alexia Medici, who is part of the curatorial team assembled by Rosa Martínez, confirms that the unique history of each site itself becomes the starting point.

“Our work begins with listening – to the site, to its layered histories, and to the communities who live with these places every day. Our intention is not to overwrite these contexts, but to allow artworks to meet them, entering into dialogue with their historical and cultural significance while remaining rooted in contemporary life.

Alexia Medici

“Every curatorial and artistic gesture within these protected sites is developed in close conversation with heritage experts. The care, responsibility, and respect for our shared patrimony is not a restriction, but a privilege as we create space for artworks to exist with their surroundings, rather than compete with them,” Medici says.

Her words are echoed by Antoine Borg Micallef, also part of the curatorial team. Borg Micallef elaborates on how the international landscape of contemporary art exhibitions is constantly shifting, as audiences are treated to an ever-expanding selection of small-scale and regional biennales or triennales.

“The fundamental difference between Malta and Venice is that we are doing away with centralised exhibition spaces such as the Arsenale and the Giardini, in favour of a network of historically significant sites such as Ġgantija and the Inquisitor’s Palace. The Malta Biennale 2026 will not be linear or exhaustive, but will require visitors to move, pause, reflect, and recalibrate their mindset with each new site they explore.

Antoine Borg Micallef

“There will be ample time for the audience to enjoy each heritage venue and digest their encounters with the artworks,” he says, adding that the team has been working very carefully to ensure that each selected artwork can be embedded naturally into the spaces.

Expanding on how this approach ties in with this year’s theme, Borg Micallef adds that each artwork has been selected carefully and intentionally, not as a standalone piece to be exhibited in a museum or heritage site, but rather a key part of an ensemble of works that speak the narrative of this year's Biennale.

It is an approach that Mario Cutajar, Malta Biennale 2026 President and Heritage Malta Chairman, confirms was the intention behind the event from the very start. He describes the event as a unique contemporary art platform in vision, intention, as well as in its objectives.

“The UNESCO granted us its patronage precisely because the concept grounding the Malta Biennale is directly aligned with its own objectives. Heritage Malta museums and historical sites serve as a platform to showcase contemporary art, which dialogues directly with history and cultural heritage. In many ways, it’s a tool that helps us implement our vision of making sites and museums more relevant to today’s audiences,” Cutajar says.

But it’s also about creating a new opportunity for Maltese and Malta-based artists to interact with international artists and curators. This is a priority that emerged clearly following a post-mortem exercise that was conducted by Heritage Malta after the 2024 debut edition.

“Findings showed that the Maltese viewed the organisation of the Malta Biennale as a means of enhancing and strengthening Malta’s profile as well as that of its artists. After all, Maltese art history has been shaped by myriad external cultural influences over the centuries. Our endeavours follow the path of history,” Cutajar concludes.

The Malta Biennale 2026 takes place between March 11 and May 29 across some 11 Heritage Malta historic sites and museums in Valletta, Birgu, Xagħra and Gozo’s Ċittadella. Tickets are available from www.maltabiennale.art.