Valletta Contemporary aims to champion “contemporary art as a catalyst for discussion, social cohesion, and cultural discovery.”
There’s a new kid in town on the local art scene. Artists and art-lovers have a new reason to celebrate with the opening of Valletta’s latest space for contemporary art: Valletta Contemporary (VC). It aims to support original and experimental works, privileging quality and excellence, in order to propel the form forward.
The gallery, which is located on East Street, was conceived and is being run by artist and architect Norbert Francis Attard, and the building itself is a marvel! Located at the lower end of Valletta, the site has been redesigned to allow for the new, the now and the modern to merge with history. It will showcase standout work by local artists as well as a world-class programme created by international creatives, and is the “ideological, physical, and practical extension of Attard's career-long passion and dedication to contemporary art,” according to its first newsletter.
Indeed, the inaugural exhibition, entitled Territories Soñados (Undreamed Territories), features the work of Spanish artist Carlos Coronas, and was previously displayed at Centro Niemeyer – one of Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer’s last completed buildings. Coronas' exhibition, which will be up until 25th May, consists of geometric sculptures which attempt to mirror organic processes, such as breathing, through the use the gradual rise and fall of light within the space.
And there’s much more to look forward to. The gallery’s programme promises artistic residencies, networking events which will allow for fruitful collaboration between different stakeholders in the contemporary art world, as well as educational intiatives, such as Q&As and lectures with and about artists and their work. A gallery store is also being set up to help support Maltese and emerging artists, hopefully giving them the impetus they need to continue creating works we can all admire and love.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30am – 2:30pm and 3:30pm – 7:30pm. For more information, check out the official website.