JOHN GRIMA'S EXHIBITION IN PARIS
In April the Institute co-sponsored an exhibition of the Maltese artists John Grima. If there’s one word to describe his work, it’s ‘energy’. Pure energy emanates from any of his works whether it be an abstract, a semi-abstract or a piece of sacred art. His collection of experiences of Gozo was presented in Paris, 20 works under the title ‘Facets of Identity’. ‘The exhibition was definitely a success. First of all it was a Maltese event, with the Ambassador of Malta Prof Salvino Busuttil and representatives of the Malta Tourism Authority present. There was great participation, and enthusiasm from the public included many questions related to the pictures themselves and their depiction of Gozo.’ The paintings had already been sold in a previous exhibition held in Gozo immediately before the Paris event. So in France eager clients were asking to purchase paintings when the exhibition was essentially just that… an exhibition.
Alain Blondy's new book L' Ordre de Malte au XVIIIème siècle
Published by Bouchène. was I launched at the Embassy of Malta in Paris. In this his latest work, Alain Blondy, a recognized expert on Malta, chronicles the culmination and then break-down and ultimate collapse of l’Ordre de Malte. He sets his story astride the secular life of the 18th Century and illuminates both in so doing. He shows his reader the integral part that the island played in the political, economic and commercial world of the century, a fact due largely to its strategic position. At the same time he demonstrates that the germ of destruction of l’Ordre de Malte was nurtured in the very progress and evolution of the 18th Century. The founding ideals and beliefs of l’Ordre de Malte became increasingly irrevelant to the largely secular aspirations of 18th Century societies. Professor Blondy gave a learned but amusing presentation of his book to a very distinguished audience of the crème de la crème of the Order of Malta in France. With many noble descendants of French knights present, Prof. Salvino Busuttil, who wrote the preface to the book, introduced the author to the audience which included: Marie Amélie Dewavrin, president of the Institute for Maltese Culture which sponsored both the book and the reception ‘ Countess Roberta Alberti, Viscount and Viscountes Marc de Boiboissel, Prince Dominic Gabrieli (president of the Cercle Litteraire), several professors of the Sorbonne University of Paris and Professor Jean Pavleski (president of the French Maltese Friendship Group in the Senate).and many others)
CONCERT AT MAISON DE DENMARK IN PARIS
Carmine Lauri performs at Maltese evening in Paris.
To mark its presidency of the European Union, which started on July 1, Denmark, through its Maison de Danemark on the Champs Elysees in Paris, hosted a Maltese evening on July 6.
The event, jointly organised by the Danish Ambassador Hans Henrik Bruun and by Malta’s Ambassador, Professor Salvino Busuttil, consisted of a recital by well known Maltese violinist
Carmine Lauri, assisted by pianist Simon Hester, followed by a reception sponsored by the Institute for Maltese Culture. His performance was hailed by all as an overwhelming musical treat. Quite a number of distinguished personalities attended the event including several Danish guests and Senator and Mme Lucien Lanier (a recent visitor to Malta on behalf of the French Senate), Princess Tall, Count and Countess Emanuel Humana Guillerninot, Mrs Daniela da Prato (executive director of Rothschild Bank), Mr Remy Robinet Duffo (president of MEDEF, the French equivalent of the FOI), Prince and Princess de la Tour de Mora, Viscount and Viscountess Marc de Bois Boissel, Viscount Tanquy de la Rochebrochard, Marquis de Naurois Turgot, the Ambassadors of most of the EU candidate countries, Baron and Baroness de Saint Didier, Prince Domenico Gabrieli Mr Patrice Sanguy (president of the Cercle Vassalli) and many Maltese residents in France.
At the start of the recital, Ambassador Busuttil read a message sent by Dr Joe Borg, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signifying the importance to Malta of the Danish Presidency of the EU and thanking the Danish Embassy and the Institute for Maltese Culture for supporting the Maltese Embassy in France in holding this important event.
