Eloquence of the Female Figure at Mgarr

The 27th event of the 2007 Malta International Art Biennale was inaugurated last Wednesday by the mayor of Mgarr, Paul Vella, and the president of the Malta Biennale, Dame Françoise Tempra in the gardens of Villa Tempra in Mgarr.

The event was sponsored by Mumm Champagne, Pernod and Duvel Beer.

Two Centuries of the Eloquence of the Female Figure spans artists from Goya to Dali, Matisse, Frank Hill, Patricia Finch, Quintanilla and Giacomo De Pass, and includes works by artists from 52 nations .

In her address Dame Françoise praised the eloquent portrayals of Maltese artists Tony Mangion (Photography) and his impressive volume on the Maltese personalities and Kenneth Zammit-Tabona (Painting), praised the book on Dalì and the Malta Biennale lecture on the subject by Dr Charles Azzopardi, and the monumental female nude by Raphael Labro, a French artist residing in Gozo, who received a Malta Biennale President's Award (presented by the mayor of Mgarr) for its textural and iconographic originality.

She also announced that the 2007 Malta Biennale in Italy will be inaugurated on Sunday evening by the mayor of Licata at the Zodiaco Gallery in Licata, Sicily, and invited artists and art lovers to attend.

A short piano recital by Rosanne Bellizzi delighted all present.

Two Centuries of the Eloquence of the Female Figure can be viewed by appointment until Friday by calling 7901-0140 or 7903-1842; e-mail: damefrancoisetempra@onvol.net