On Thursday 13 March, the office of the Archbishop’s Delegate for Culture officially opened its first exhibition titled Silence Within Abundant Birdsong, celebrating fifty years since the Manikata church entered Malta’s churchscape. Curated by Andrew Borg Wirth alongside Sera Galea, the exhibition features new works by Austin Camilleri, Julian Vassallo, Victor Agius, and Laetitia Troisi De Menville, and will be open to the public until 24 April 2025 at the Malta Society of Arts, Valletta.
The iconic Manikata church, designed by Richard England, has long been considered a highlight in Malta’s modernist architectural heritage. The exhibiting artists explore their relationship with Manikata, its surrounding landscape, architecture, and sacredness through the mediums of sculpture, photography, and music.
“The church is a space of silence. Its threshold attempts to mask the sound of its outside. Whilst an abundant birdsong hovers around its walls, the architect sees potential in conserving its absence,” writes curator Andrew Borg Wirth. Indeed, this exhibition seeks to contemplate the sacred within silence and the echoes of a landscape rich in history and meaning. Prof. Richard England, in conversation with Ann Dingli within the exhibition catalogue states: “The intangible problem in designing a sacred building is that you are measuring against the immeasurable. Above all what is required is to create loci of meditative silence, prayer and mystic.”
Arch. Adrian Mamo, President of the Malta Society of Arts, remarks on the importance of hosting this exhibition: “We are honoured to present Silence Within Abundant Birdsong at the Malta Society of Arts. This exhibition not only pays tribute to a milestone in Malta’s architectural and spiritual heritage but also fosters an artistic dialogue between history, space, and contemporary expression. We look forward to welcoming the public to experience this profound reflection on silence, nature, and the sacred.”
In 2023, Archbishop of Malta Charles J. Scicluna entrusted Mgr. Claude Portelli as the first Delegate for Culture for the Archdiocese of Malta. The office of the Delegate for Culture seeks to strengthen dialogue between the Church in Malta and the cultural world, fostering collaborations with Malta’s artistic community while commissioning, supporting, and launching cultural projects alongside influential Maltese creatives and institutions.
Silence Within Abundant Birdsong invites visitors to engage with the intersection of art, architecture, and spirituality. By reflecting on the sacredness of space, memory, and the natural world, the exhibition offers a contemporary response to a landmark of Maltese modernist heritage. Through this artistic exploration, the Manikata church continues to inspire new perspectives and meaningful conversations, bridging the past and present in an evolving cultural landscape.
A book launch will take place on Thursday 10 April at the Malta Society of Arts, inaugurating a catalogue with interventions by Prof. Joe Friggieri, Prof. Maria Frendo, Elyse Tonna, Ella Fleri Soler, Anthony Bonnici, an interview with Richard England by Ann Dingli, and a foreword by Chris Abel.
Silence Within Abundant Birdsong is open from 13 March to 24 April at the Art Galleries of the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta. This project is supported by APS Bank, The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, RLAUTIER and Spades Wines & Spirits. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Entrance is free. For more details please visit www.artsmalta.org/events or www.facebook.com/maltasocietyofarts.
