In the heart of Valletta, Malta’s capital city, stands the St. James Cavalier, a 16th-century fort turned contemporary arts centre. This year, it’s playing host to something extraordinary – the Malta Biennale. But what makes this event so unique? Let’s look the intersection of space, belonging, and the Malta Biennale.

The Biennale isn’t just about the art; it’s about the space it inhabits. Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a living museum, its streets echoing with history. The St. James Cavalier, with its thick stone walls and vaulted ceilings, is no exception. It’s not just a venue; it’s a character in the story. The art doesn’t just hang on walls; it interacts with the space, inviting us to consider our own relationship with our surroundings.

Take, for instance, Stephen Ellis‘s installation, “The Weight of History”. Ellis, a Maltese artist, has filled the cavernous space with thousands of handmade clay bricks, each one stamped with a personal story. The work isn’t just about the bricks; it’s about the space they fill, the history they represent, and the stories they tell.

The Biennale isn’t just about exploring space; it’s about exploring our place within it. The theme of this year’s Biennale is “Resilience”, and many of the works explore what it means to belong, to find our place in the world.

Consider Rahal Collins‘s “In-Between Spaces”. This immersive installation, housed in the old military bakery within the Cavalier, explores the liminal spaces we inhabit – the in-between places where we’re neither here nor there. It’s a meditation on belonging, on finding our place in a world that’s constantly shifting.

Or take Maria Grima‘s “The Unspoken”. Grima’s work explores the silenced stories of Maltese women, inviting us to consider who gets to tell the story of our collective past, and who gets to belong to it.

The Biennale isn’t just about the art; it’s about the conversation. It’s about bringing people together to talk about who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. It’s about challenging our assumptions, questioning our narratives, and finding new ways to see the world.

And that’s what makes the Malta Biennale so important. It’s not just an art event; it’s a platform for dialogue, a space for reflection, a chance to consider our place in the world. It’s a reminder that belonging isn’t something we’re born with; it’s something we create, something we build, something we choose.

So, if you find yourself in Valletta this autumn, do more than just wander the streets. Step inside the St. James Cavalier. Let the art challenge you, inspire you, move you. Let it remind you that belonging isn’t about where you’re from; it’s about where you’re going. And who you’re going there with.

As Maltese artist Stephen Ellis puts it, “Art has the power to connect us, to remind us that we’re all in this together.” So, let’s come together. Let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s belong.