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Ma Nafx il-Vers li Ġej – Celebrating 25 Years of Spazju Kreattiv: Nurturing Legacy Through Art

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Dan l-avveniment għadda


Dati
Il-Ħamis 29 ta' Jannar - Il-Ħadd 15 ta' Marzu 2026

F’dawn l-aħħar snin, Spazju Kreattiv wettaq xogħol arkivjali sinifikanti fuq il-kollezzjoni permanenti tal-arti tiegħu, li rriżulta f’dokumentazzjoni u preservazzjoni bir-reqqa. Din l-inizjattiva wasslet għal sensiela ta’ wirjiet li juru kemm in-natura tax-xogħlijiet kif ukoll l-approċċ li qed jevolvi tal-organizzazzjoni għall-akkwist tal-arti. Permezz ta’ dan l-istudju dettaljat, ġie żviluppat ukoll arkivju diġitali tal-kollezzjoni li sar aċċessibbli għall-pubbliku.

Hekk kif l-organizzazzjoni tiċċelebra l-25 anniversarju tagħha, din tidħol f’fażi ġdida ta’ tkabbir u riflessjoni. Biex jimmarkaw dan l-anniversarju, ġew ikkummissjonati erba’ artisti prominenti—kull wieħed minnhom figura ewlenija fis-settur tal-arti u kontributur sinifikanti għall-evoluzzjoni ta’ Spazju Kreattiv bħala attur ewlieni u innovatur fil-qasam. Din l-inizjattiva l-ġdida mhux biss tagħti ġieħ lil-legat ta’ dawn l-artisti iżda tħeġġeġ ukoll riflessjoni kontinwa dwar ir-rilevanza tal-kollezzjoni fix-xenarju kulturali tal-lum. Permezz tal-kummissjonar ta’ xogħlijiet ġodda li għandhom jiżdiedu mal-kollezzjoni permanenti, Spazju Kreattiv jafferma mill-ġdid l-impenn tiegħu għall-innovazzjoni artistika, id-djalogu kritiku, u l-evoluzzjoni kontinwa tal-arkivju tiegħu. Huwa jenfasizza wkoll id-dedikazzjoni dejjiema tal-organizzazzjoni għat-trawwim tal-kreattività u l-enfażi fuq ir-rwol vitali tal-arti u l-kultura fil-politika nazzjonali ta’ Malta.


Ma Nafx il-Vers li Ġej 

Paul Scerri

Minn fejn jibda xogħol tal-arti? Kif jieħu forma? U x’inhu dak il-bidu li, għalkemm jawgura tajjeb, imut fuq ommu? Dawn il-mistoqsijiet, li forsi jistgħu jidhru sempliċi, jiftħu qasam wiesa’ ta’ tensjonijiet bejn bidu u proċess, bejn intenzjoni u forsi-wasla. Huwa l-punt tat-tluq li jiddetermina l-opra, jew il-mixja stess li, pass wara pass, tifforma l-għamla tagħha? Fejn se jwassal lill-poeta l-vers li ġej, u fejn se twassal il-pinzellata li jmiss lill-pittur, l-għafsa tas-seba’ fit-tafal lill-iskultur jew in-nota tilgħab noli lill-kompożitur? 

Fil-qalba ta’ din il-kwistjoni hemm ir-relazzjoni bejn kunċett u forma. Hu l-kunċett li jiddetta l-forma, jew hija l-forma li, permezz tal-proċess materjali u sensorju, tnissel il-kunċett? Forsi l-produzzjoni artistika għandha tinftiehem mhux biss bħala eżekuzzjoni ta’ idea diġà lesta, imma bħala spazju ta’ negozjar kontinwu bejn ħsieb, materja u azzjoni. Kultant taħdem biex tiġi idea, kultant l-idea tiġi waqt li qed taħdem. Minn Kant sa Greenberg, hemm tradizzjoni kritika li tinsisti fuq l-awtonomija tal-arti: l-opra bħala sistema awtoriferenzjali li titkellem fuqha nnifisha, fuq il-mezzi tagħha stess u fuq il-loġika interna tagħha. F’din il-fehma, l-arti m’għandhiex bżonn ta’ krozzi narrattivi, morali jew politiċi biex tiġġustifika l-eżistenza tagħha; is-saħħa tagħha tinsab fil-kapaċità li żżomm fuq saqajha permezz tal-forma, il-materjalità u l-esperjenza estetika nnifisha. Carmel Attard, il-poeta li minnu ġie mislut it-titlu ta’ dan ix-xogħol ta’ Paul Scerri, isaqsi: “Imma l-vers li ġej min jaf x’inhu?” 

Jista’ jkun li jkun “fih mid-dmija” ta’ Kristu, jew ‘mit-toqol ta’ ruħ il-bniedem”, jew mid-“daħka dejjiema tal-bluha”, jew forsi “mid-daħk safi tat-tfal”. Jista’ jkun ukoll li dan, wara kollox, se jkun l-aħħar vers li l-poeta qatt se jħażżeż. Min jaf? Man-naħa ta’ fuq tal-installazzjoni tiegħu, Scerri rabat mijiet ta’ bċejjeċ ta’ qxur tas-siġar jew mulch, imdendlin ma’ linji ta’ xlief ta’ qisien differenti. Taħthom ras kbira taċ-ċeramika, għajnejha magħluqin. Dan hu s-sit tal-ħolm u l-ideat, tal-inkwiet u t-tmaħmiħ. U, għallinqas skont Descartes, il-post fejn ir-ruħ u l-ġisem jitwaħħdu flimkien appuntu fil-glandola pineali. U hekk dawk il-bċejjeċ jitbandlu fuqha, bħal ideat inkejjużi li jwiegħdu ħafna u ma jsarrfu xejn, jista’ jkun li sa issa għad għandhom toqol u materja imma, kulma jmur, dawn qegħdin jitnaqqru u jitmermru. 

Għax iż-żmien ħelu ħelu se jħalli l-marki tiegħu, u l-materja se tinqered jew titbiddel u ftit li xejn se jibqa’ minnha. Imma l-mulch huwa wara kollox fertilizzant u jekk imqar isib roqgħa ħamrija jaf jinbidel f’humus. Il-ħamrija tissaħħaħ, tiġi mogħnija b’ħafna nutrijenti, u hekk dak li jinżera’ fiha għandu ħabta jikber aktar b’saħħtu u folt. “Forsi jkun l-aħħar vers li ser inħażżeż / jew l-ewwel fost il-fjur sewdieni / tat-tieni xitwa ta’ ħajti!” jagħlaq il-poeżija tiegħu Attard. Il-ftit-tama ta’ Attard forsi tinsab aktar assertiva f’Scerri. Imma l-vers li ġej xorta se jqanqal mitt elf dubju. Mhux se jkun ħafif. Għal ħadd.

Fi djalogu ma' Paul Scerri - Diskussjoni 1

Data u Ħin: Il-Ħamis, 19 ta’ Frar 2026, fis-6:30 p.m 

Tul: siegħa Post: 

Studio B 

Matul dan l-avveniment, l-artist Paul Scerri u Christian Attard mid-Dipartiment tal-Arti u l-Istorja tal-Arti, fl-Università ta’ Malta, se jiddiskutu aspetti ewlenin tal-karriera ta’ Paul u t-temi li kontinwament jesplora fix-xogħol tiegħu. Id-diskussjoni se tħares lejn mistoqsijiet dwar is-sens u t-tifsira, ir-reazzjonijiet tal-udjenza, l-aspett Malti, il-materjalità, l-influwenzi formattivi, u d-dinamika tal-esplorazzjoni u r-reżistenza kreattiva. L-avveniment se jdum madwar siegħa u nofs, u l-udjenza tkun mistiedna tipparteċipa b’mod attiv, tistaqsi mistoqsijiet u tidħol fil-konversazzjoni. L-avveniment se jsir bil-Malti.

Kelliema: Paul Scerri and Christian Attard 

Fi djalogu ma' Paul Scerri- Diskussjoni 2

Data u Ħin: Is-Sibt, 7 ta’ Marzu 2026, fl-11:00 a.m.

 Tul: siegħa 

Post: Studio B 

Matul dan l-avveniment, l-artist Paul Scerri, l-awtur Paul P. Borg, u Dr. Christian Attard mid-Dipartiment tal-Arti u l-Istorja tal-Arti, fl-Università ta’ Malta, se jiddiskutu diversi angoli tal-proċess kreattiv inklużi, iżda mhux limitati għalihom, is-sorsi ta’ influwenza, il-forma u r-reazzjoni tal-udjenza. Id-diskussjoni se tieħu bħala punt tat-tluq it-titlu tal-installazzjoni ta’ Scerri Ma Nafx il-Vers li Ġej, li huwa vers minn poeżija tal-mejjet Carmel Attard. L-avveniment se jdum madwar siegħa u nofs, u l-udjenza tkun mistiedna tipparteċipa b’mod attiv, tistaqsi mistoqsijiet u tidħol fil-konversazzjoni. L-avveniment se jsir bil-Malti. 

Kelliema: Paul Scerri Christian Attard u Paul P. Borg

This event has passed


Dates
Thursday 29th January - Sunday 15th March 2026

In recent years, Spazju Kreattiv has undertaken significant archival work on its permanent arts collection, resulting in thorough documentation and preservation. This initiative has led to a series of exhibitions that showcase both the nature of the works and the organisation’s evolving approach to acquiring art. Through this detailed study, a digital archive of the collection has also been developed and made publicly accessible.

As the organisation celebrates its 25th anniversary, it enters a new phase of growth and reflection. To mark this milestone, four prominent artists have been commissioned, each a leading figure in the arts sector and a significant contributor to Spazju Kreattiv’s evolution as a key stakeholder and innovator in the field. This new initiative not only honours the legacy of these artists but also encourages ongoing reflection on the collection’s relevance in today’s cultural landscape. By commissioning new works to be added to the permanent collection, Spazju Kreattiv reaffirms its commitment to artistic innovation, critical dialogue, and the continuous evolution of its archive. It also underscores the organisation’s enduring dedication to nurturing creativity and emphasising the vital role of arts and culture within Malta’s national policy.


Ma Nafx il-Vers li Ġej

Paul Scerri

Where does a work of art begin? How does it take shape? And what of those beginnings that seem promising yet lead nowhere? These questions open a field of tension between origin and process, intention and outcome, concept and form. Is it the point of departure that determines the work, or the journey itself, unfolding step by step, that gives it shape? Where will the next verse carry the poet, and where will the next brushstroke take the painter; where will the sculptor be led by the press of fingers into clay, or the composer by a note skipping playfully ahead?

At the heart of this inquiry lies the relationship between idea and material. Does concept impinges upon form, or does form, through its material and sensory process, give life to meaning? Artistic production here is not understood as the execution of a fully formed idea, but as a space of continuous negotiation between thought, matter, and action. Sometimes one works to arrive at an idea; at other times, the idea emerges through the act of working itself.

The title of this installation is drawn from a poem by Carmel Attard, who asks: “But the next verse, who knows what it will be?” It may carry within it suffering or joy, gravity or laughter; it may even be the poet’s last verse. The uncertainty of what is yet to come becomes the conceptual engine of Scerri’s work.

Suspended above the installation are hundreds of fragments of tree bark or mulch, hung from lines of varying lengths. Beneath them rests a large ceramic head, its eyes closed. This is a site of dreaming and thought, of anxiety and incubation, recalling, at least metaphorically, Descartes’ pineal gland, where body and soul were believed to meet. The fragments hover like unrealised ideas: they promise much yet may dissolve with time. And yet mulch is also fertiliser. Should it find soil, it may transform into humus, enriching the ground and enabling new growth.

The next verse, the work suggests, is never light.

It is charged with doubt, weight, and possibility.

 

In dialogue with Paul Scerri - Discussion 1

Date and Time: Thursday, 19 February 2026, at 6:30 pm

Duration: 1 hour 

Venue: Studio B

During this event, artist Paul Scerri, and Dr. Christian Attard from the Department of Art and Art History, University of Malta, will discuss key aspects of Paul’s career and the thematic anchors that his work consistently explores. The discussion will address questions of sense-making, viewers’ responses, malteseness, materiality, formative influences and the dynamics of creative exploration and resistance. The event will last approximately an hour and a half, and the audience will be invited to actively engage, ask questions, and participate in the conversation. The event will be carried out in Maltese.

Speakers: Paul Scerri Christian Attard

In dialogue with Paul Scerri - Discussion 2

Date and Time: Saturday, 7 March 2026, at 11:00am

Duration: 1 hour 

Venue: Studio B

During this event artist Paul Scerri, author Paul P. Borg, and Christian Attard from the Department of Art and Art History, University of Malta, will discuss different angles of the creative process including, but not limited to, sources of influence, form and audience response. The discussion will take as its point of departure the title of Scerri’s installation Ma Nafx il-Vers li Ġej which is a verse from a poem by the late Carmel Attard. The event will last approximately an hour and a half, and the audience will be invited to actively engage, ask questions, and participate in the conversation. The event will be carried out in Maltese.

Speakers: Paul Scerri Christian Attard Paul P. Borg