A dive into the Maltese islands’ prehistoric origins as well as its current presence in the Mediterranean form the basis of Revisiting Maleth, an exhibition by Arts Council Malta currently on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina.
The Phoenician word maleth, which literally translates to haven/port, evokes the primeval origins of Malta’s existence and all who came in contact with the island as they crossed the waters of the Mediterranean through the ages; a reality that still holds true today.
The 18th-century Vilhena Palace, a stunning backdrop for a diverse collection of birds, bones, fossils and natural history specimen, staged the exhibition’s launch which forms part of Retold, an Arts Council Malta initiative to bring projects that were successfully exhibited overseas back to our shores.
Revisiting Maleth represented Malta in 2019 at the 58th Arts Biennale in Venice. The winning team was composed of Dr Hesperia Iliadou Suppiej (lead curator), Vince Briffa (artist), Klitsa Antoniou (artist), Trevor Borg (artist) and Matthew Joseph Casha (architect/designer).
Dr Luke Dalli, Arts Council Malta Executive Chairman, noted how Retold was born from the aim of making art accessible to everyone across Malta and Gozo. To this end, projects which were exhibited at the Venice Art Biennale and the London Design Biennale “will come back to Malta, the place they were born, and where they will now find their natural home.”
From September, URNA, the winning project of the London Design Biennale 2025 will be on display at Ħaġar Qim, Qrendi followed by another three projects that were exhibited internationally throughout the rest of 2025.
Revisiting Maleth is open to visitors until 31st August.
Photography courtesy of Arts Council Malta
