An exhibition of paintings by Giorgio Preca has been launched at MUŻA. Preca’s works were brought over to Malta from Rome earlier this year, having been loaned to Heritage Malta by the artist’s family. This exhibition epitomises Heritage Malta’s efforts towards a visitor-centred experience in its sites and museums, with immersive and interactive features that bring the paintings to life.
Entitled ‘Giorgio Preca (1909 – 1984) ta’ Malta: An International Artist with a Modern Spirit’, the exhibition presents works from the family’s collection which have been exhibited internationally, as well as Preca’s self-portrait which Heritage Malta acquired in 2019.
The paintings from the family’s collection include works selected for the 29th edition of the Venice Biennale of 1958; works from ‘The Inhabitants of the Moon’ series which were exhibited twice in Rome in 1952 and at the Commonwealth Institute Art Gallery of London in 1966; and a set of still lifes and abstract paintings which were exhibited both in Rome and London.
Giorgio Preca was an outstanding Maltese artist, considered by many post-war artists as one of the finest local exponents of modern art, if not the best among them. He spent a good part of his life in Rome and attracted attention from international entities. Throughout his career, he was ready to take risks and present his individual artistic language, even if the public in Malta was many a time not ready for such innovation.
While living in Malta, his contemporaries looked up to him as a leading figure who pushed forward a new Modernist spirit. The drive for Modernism persisted during his sojourn in Italy, as confirmed by the long list of solo and collective exhibitions he took part in, and the ensuing international reviews. He engaged with the Roman artistic scene, both as a foreigner living there as well as an international artist.
At a press conference launching the exhibition – which was also attended by Aurora Preca, the artist’s granddaughter – Anthony Scicluna, Heritage Malta’s Chairman, said that, despite Preca’s importance in the history of art in Malta, and despite the respect shown to him by fellow artists, these works remained to a certain extent in obscurity among his compatriots. It was therefore befitting for Heritage Malta to acquire Preca’s artworks on loan so that the public may enjoy them in the artist’s country of birth and Malta may acknowledge appropriately one of its own who, through his art, honoured himself and his native land.
This exhibition is a journey in getting to know Giorgio Preca, the artist himself, and his works. The visitor is first taken into a prologue, better understanding the context and the relevance of this artist, culminating in Preca’s self-portrait, a very intriguing work which, albeit abstract at a glance, is full of curiosities. After viewing three of the works exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the visitor is immersed in a unique audio-visual voyage – ALIENS@MALTA – inspired from the ‘Inhabitants of the Moon’ series. Visitors can also interact with Preca’s abstracts and join in his creative process. Last but not least, once can sit down in the studio, with Preca’s still life paintings, which also include the original objects that inspired him and his works. The exhibition is not only limited to MUŻA’s Camerone area, but is also spread out within the galleries, creating a dialogue between this artist’s work and the national collection on display.
The exhibition will run until 27th February 2022. The opening hours are from Monday to Sunday between 10:00 and 16:30. This exhibition includes an immersive experience with light projections.
