'National' sculptor's works to go on display

Sixty sculptures by Anton Agius will feature in the 13th retrospective Bank of Valletta exhibition, which will be opened by President Eddie Fenech Adami at BOV's head office in Sliema on May 27.

The sculptures, in wood, stone and other media, will be on display until July 8.

Mr Agius, who was born in Rabat in 1933, was once referred to by former President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici as "the national sculptor".

He is the artist of the Sette Giugno 1919 and Dun Mikiel Xerri u Shabu monuments.

Apart from these, most of Malta's sculptures commemorating milestones in its history and the people who shaped its destiny are his. There is hardly a town or village in Malta that does not have a monument or bust by Anton Agius, in remembrance of the local patriot, philanthropist, politician, man of letters or artist, among others. He has also sculptured busts of the seven past presidents of Malta.

Mr Agius' work has embraced a variety of techniques and genres. The artistic kernel of this creativity lies in his wonderful wood carvings but he has also been a designer of postage stamps, an interior church designer and decorator, a ceramist and a maker of medallions.