UNESCO world heritage site Ġgantija came to life last week as a collaborative project of contemporary art and music took guests on a journey to long lost times in a primordial culture. Hosted by Heritage Malta and supported by the Malta Arts Fund and Banif Bank among others, Ġgantija 2013 is an interdisciplinary creative project that uses the arts to interact with cultural, social and historical concept.

Visitors on the night were treated to a magical and atmospheric evening where primeval beats and ethereal voices accompanied them from one apse to another in a sensorial experience. Sculptural and media installations intervened with the ancient architecture to create both dissonance and harmony. Driven by artist Victor Agius and composer Mariella Cassar, the project saw other members of the Ars Vitae Ensemble perform including violinists Ernise Toth and David Lang, percussionist Renzo Spiteri, cellist Simon Abdilla Joslin, pianist Gisele Grima, Alistair Attard on the synthesizer, and Alan Cordina playing the didgeridoo. The music was also accompanied by the voice of soprano Miriam Cauchi while the lyrics were by Immanuel Mifsud.

“Embarking on an intervention of an artistic nature as a reaction to such a highly charged site as the Ġgantija Temples is indeed an act of admirable courage, particularly when the venture happens at the very heart of the site itself,” said curator Dr Vince Briffa.

“A truly suggestive and evocative event that took us to places forgotten and to a time when the oldest standing stone structure ever was a sacred place,” said Joaquim F. Silva Pinto, Chief Executive Officer, Banif Bank (Malta) plc. “Our support for this project ticks many boxes. The combination of youth, talent, art, music, education and heritage made our commitment to this collaboration an easy one.”

The project will see other artistic and educational events throughout the year. The project is supported by The Malta Arts Fund, Banif Bank (Malta) plc, GasanMamo Insurance, The Janatha Stubbs Foundation, Abraham’s Supplies Co Ltd, Xagħra Local Council and Gozo Culture & Information Office (Ministry for Gozo). Keep in touch with Ggantija 2013 via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ArsVitaeEnsemble or by email on arsvitaensemble@gmail.com.