Heritage Malta welcomes Gabriel Caruana artwork collection

Heritage Malta (HM) has welcomed a large mural ceramic decoration entitled “Energy Field” by deceased Maltese artist Gabriel Caruana, according to a Heritage Malta press release.

The mural is part of the Gabriel Caruana Collection, which was dismantled from the Delimara power station to make way for the new gas-fired power station, and the artwork was donated to HM to remain part of the art collection of the country.

The €8,000 restoration project was run by energy services provider Enemalta. The company says it wanted to ensure that the artwork was received in their best condition, as the HM press release says.

“Thanks to this donation, we are further strengthening Caruana’s legacy as one of our local modern art pioneers. While also commemorating this great artist, we are also reinforcing the cultural and artistic platform for local talent and for local artists to increase professionalisation within the sector,” said Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici.

“We want to invest further in our growing cultural and creative sector, a sector that has been increasingly strengthened and is performing to high expectations,” he added.

“Heritage Malta shall be issuing a number of calls in the coming weeks for artistic installations and exhibitions in line with MUŻA’s programming for the coming years. This will give the opportunity to the local artistic community to exhibit and showcase their work,” said Noel Zammit, Acting CEO of Heritage Malta.

“This forms part of Heritage Malta’s strategy to bring MUŻA in line with its mission – that of being an art and community museum,” added Mr Zammit.

Gabriel Caruana (1929 – 2018) was a renowned artist in the field of sculpture, painting, and ceramics. He was one of the pioneers of modern art, expressing himself in innovative sculptures in wood, papier-mâché, objects trouvés, paintings and ceramic art, the Maltese government’s Department of Information (DOI) says in a press statement.

During his career spanning over 60 years, he received several recognitions including the Medal for Artistic Achievement (1999), the Premju Għarfien Kulturali (2003), and a gold medal by the Malta Society for Arts (2014) for his contribution as an artist and art educator.

“Caruana has been key to make contemporary art more accessible to the public. In 1990, he succeeded to convert an old mill in Birkirkara into a centre for modern art and together with Mary Rose Caruana, he founded the Mill Art, Culture and Crafts Centre which seeks to promote local artists,” the DOI press release says commemorating the artist.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The present story has been updated with additional information about Gabriel Caruana’s career.