Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Remember, thou art but mortal
Along with a thousand and one other guests I attended the launch of the Renzo Piano Project for Valletta in Republic Street, Valletta last Saturday. Nothing unexpected really apart from the fact that those who imagined that the plan for a roofless theatre instead of, or rather, on top of the opera house ruins, would have some futuristic device that would render it weather proof and noise proof remained as mystified as before. Mr. Piano is a genius but he is not Merlin, is he? The membrane that will box in what remains of the Barry ruin, which, we are told, will be further enhanced by the bits and pieces that have not been spirited away from that infamous field near the Addolorata Cemetery, will be able to project virtual images and also be rendered transparent so as to enjoy the incomparable views of Auberge de Castille, the Victory church and the church of St Catherine of Italy on the one end and Palazzo Ferreria on the other. Big deal!
Although Mr. Piano is not Merlin, I am indebted to him for pulling off what none of us Maltese could do; persuading the government that, because of what the opera house site symbolises in popular memory, it should be used as an arts centre and not Parliament as originally envisaged. Ironically, what tipped the scale towards this change of heart was that the opera house site was far too small to cater for the needs of our 60 something MPs and that a spanking new building in the more spacious Freedom Square would be more suitable. Conversely, 1,200 hoi polloi, us, the audience, must make do with the opera house footprint under the stars both real and man-made.
The Parliament design promises to have all the Piano hallmarks of ingenuity even making a stunning feature of the odd angles caused by St James Cavalier.
At least, this building promises to have the iconic splendid quirkiness of Mr Piano's other works like the music theatre and casino in Potsdamerplatz but is not as traffic-stopping as the new opera house in Rome. Therefore, the government has had its cake and eaten it too. Everyone knew that, by hook or by crook, there was no way that this government was to be dissuaded from its decision to have Parliament next to City Gate sitting like a "tewma fuq suflè" between two arts centres. What does this government care as to whether the country desperately needs a proper concert hall for its superb philharmonic orchestra? What's the point of continuing one's campaign to convince it that Malta has no museum of modern and contemporary art and most art produced from 1800 to the present day is relatively unaccounted for and not displayed anywhere?
Notwithstanding all this I am prepared to accept the plans for the opera house site as they are, provided the membranes will be made up of glass panels instead of membrane and the place is roofed and climatised. In for a penny, in for a pound. Anyone who has been involved in the organisation or who regularly attends summer al fresco events is fully aware of what the drawbacks are.
Besides the atmospheric ones, the most insidious are the man-made ones; fireworks, for instance, which from May to October are an everyday occurrence. We also have al fresco locations two a penny and we really do not need another when there is such a dearth of locations for the rest of the year. To make artistic and even economic sense, the plan should be altered to somewhat resemble Mr Piano's superb Pierpont Morgan Library in New York. In that way we will be able to enjoy Mr Piano's masterpiece all the year round.
Nothing will convince me that the whole fait accompli does not smack of a tremendous arrogance by a political party that has by default been handed electoral victory on a golden platter for far too long and has now outstayed its welcome. The Nationalist government is ignoring the opinions and thoughts of the very electorate that placed it there precisely because it once promised to be a party based on "dialogue, transparency and consultation". With whom I wonder? Its yes men? Its hangers on? Its nepotists? All those who hold lucrative positions? All those riding the governmental gravy train running from Valletta to Brussels and back?
I will remind the Prime Minister and his cronies that in Republican Rome when a general was accorded a triumph by the senate, while riding on his golden chariot in resplendent armour, his face painted red, every few minutes the slave who held the laurel wreath above his head whispered "Remember, thou art but mortal" in his ear. Perhaps the practice should be reintroduced.
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Franco Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 18:15
@ Daphne: I agree with you to the point where you state that not every opinion should have the same weight (even if there are a few around us who make out that they have a right to voice their opinions on everything, and that everyone else must agree with them, as otherwise their opinions should not be considered.) I would be stupid to tell the surgeon what to do, how to operate. But Daphne, I would feel duty-bound to tell that surgeon that, listen, the patient is still not recovering and that something must be done. To fail to point that out would be stupid!
Speaking for myself, I am just asking questions, and so are many other, level-headed and balanced people. I have nothing to do with those few who in their ignorance are denigrating Piano as an architect. I am merely saying that he should be re-briefed and if there is some fine-tuning to be done, let it be done now rather than later.
(NB. I doubt whether your preference to the NP could be in some way further reinforced. :-) And that turns you into a subjective analyst of things around you.)
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jul 1st 2009, 17:55
George, I had no idea that it is considered insulting to describe somebody as a bridge-player or pie-maker. There may be cultural differences at work here, in which case I apologise.
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jul 1st 2009, 17:21
Franco, I'm afraid that Renzo Piano's 'pulling power' is not my opinion but fact. Taschen has published a massive tome documenting his work. The propensity to regard facts as opinions and vice versa has made any form of debate quite difficult.
Over the past 25 years, these islands have gone from almost no democracy to the ostensibly 'democratic' extreme in which the opinion of Joe Borg as to what should be done with a building is as valid as Renzo Piano's. It is this which offends me, and not the opposition to the project itself.
It is not democracy, but a variation on the communist theme that one person is as 'good' (and entirely dispensable) as the next - hence surgeons and street-sweepers should be paid the same amount of money.
It is only your perception that my arguments are political - though I must say that this matter has served only to reinforce my preference for the Nationalist Party over the Labour Party. The first chose one of the greatest architects of all time; the second is talking about 'listening to the people' and tailor-making an amateur, vision-free mish-mash to suit.
I have no interest in intimidating you.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 17:19
What I still question is the following: Francis Zammit Dimech's article yesterday makes sense: he is suggesting some sort of removable roof over the theatre. What's wrong with that? Would certainly make it much more practical to use.
As regards the Parliament building, what I am humbly asking is: a) do we really need to have Parliament move from the Palace? b) do we really have to build over Freedom Square - can't we leave that area unbuilt and turn it into a lovely area / garden or whatever? and in the meantime find some ugly block inside Valletta, bring it down and rebuild it as Piano would suggest? Don't you think that the Parliament building smack at the entrance of Valletta is somewhat impractical? Won't it block the entrance and be a hindrance to people walking past it, during ceremonies/demonstrations/what-have-you?
And with regard to the entrance, don't you think that we could do with some form of gate rather than a 'breach in the bastions' (I am quoting, here)?
These are the questions that I, for one, am asking. So far, nobody is attempting to answer them. Just shooting down the singer, not the song.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 16:54
@ DCG: Well, I am glad that you now think that this has nothing to do with politics. The way I read you and a few others, it appeared that those of us who were merely putting questions about the plans were trying to push the government down.
Your belief that those who are criticising the plans are in some way conservative is baseless and no amount of attacks on me and others is going to stop me from airing my views, whether you like it or not. Daphne, you will not intimidate me.
You say that anything that Piano designs is ok for you - well, that's your opinion. We want a capital city, not a crowd-puller.
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jul 1st 2009, 15:56
Martin Borg: the fact that I am able to express myself cogently and in well-formed sentences, with the minimum of hysteria and no hyperbole, does not make me patronising. A plethora of chaotic thoughts, over-emotional language and haphazard grammar is not evidence of a democratic attitude, but of something else. I think it inappropriate and entirely unnecessary to communicate as 'the people' do, so as to be thought one of them. I am not after your vote and I have no lobby group to run.
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jul 1st 2009, 15:48
Franco, this is not an argument for or against a political party, but an argument for or against a project.
Many people who support Labour are enthusiastic about Renzo Piano's plans, while many people who support the Nationalist Party are not. I have noticed that the common factor among those opposing the project is conservatism.
Support for gay rights - generally because one happens to be gay - and a favourable view of divorce legislation do not make a liberal or forward-looking person.
Whatever Renzo Piano designs - whether it is a parliament house, a theatre, a museum or a public library - will add to Valletta's 'pull', but a theatre by a no-name architect will not. If you want an opera house by Renzo Piano, you're not going to get it,. He himself explained why.
As for an opera house or concert hall being a greater priority or more culturally and socially significant than a parliament house - words fail me. The Soviet Union had plenty of opera houses and no parliament, and I never noticed anyone tripping over themselves to go and live there. It's not the most satisfactory analogy, but one worth meditating on.
George Debono
Jul 1st 2009, 15:30
Daphne spake thus:
“hyperbole, the sort of thing we were taught to avoid because it undermines the strength of one's argument”
Sorry I don’t buy that.
But try a variation of above but substitute the words “INSULTS AND TAUNTS” for ‘hyperbole’ and then you’re saying something.
G
Franco Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 13:15
@ KZT: And another thing, Kenneth. Give it up - trying to educate the people. Kull min ma jaqbilx ma' din l-amministrazzjoni huwa ahmar nar!!!!! Biex tkun nazzjonalist, illum, trid taqbel ma' kollox li johrog minn fomm il-politikanti skaduti li ghandna, u anke minn dawk li pappewha jew qedin ipappuwha jew ghandhom 'l uliedhom qed ipappuha bla ma haqqhom!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 13:12
@ Martin Borg - If you think that I am positively criticising the plans as they are simply because of the PN administration, you have got another thought coming - there are, indeed, much more things to criticise this administration with (fuel prices on the rise?), then to resort to criticise the plans for Valletta. If it had been the PL, I would have been in the forefront to criticise them as well. Please, Mr Borg, try not to measure other people according to your own! Is this the case of the Maltese 'spizjar milli jkollu jtik?' The very fact that you try and push 'sour grapes' to ME shows how little you know about me.
@J Martinelli: Obviously, KZT will be able to defend himself if he thinks it's worth it, but once again, please stop trying to sanctimoniously push PN down our throats at every corner. Have you got no life in Canada? Haven't you integrated yourself yet with that society? The mind boggles.
M.Grech
Jul 1st 2009, 12:52
Love the Renzo Piano Project, it is different to all the other so called "projects" we have around us.
You should be inspired by him Kenneth at-least all his projects are different, he doesn't keep on doing the same thing again and again.
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jul 1st 2009, 11:11
I did say I love him, Lucia: heaven forbid we should dislike all those we disagree with, or like/love all those whose views are in accordance with our own.
George, your views are the same as Kenneth's but it's not a good idea to defend him . People might say you're doing it because he's your sister's son. Well done for the lampuki pies: it's nice to come across a man of your generation who actually cooks. They usually think of it as a woman's job.
"What you write is the most phenomenal epitome of hypocritical cheek I have ever come across." I believe that's what is known as hyperbole, the sort of thing we were taught to avoid because it undermines the strength of one's argument. I am your son's age, but even in my shorter and considerably less expansive existence I have come across some rather startling examples of hypocritical cheek. Feel free to accuse me of cheek: I have been full of it since childhood. But hypocrisy? I don't think so. I get the impression that what people find most offensive about me is my lack of hypocrisy. Perhaps that's one thing we might have in common.
Martin Borg
Jul 1st 2009, 10:17
@KZT. Arrogant or not, Government at least had the guts to finally do away with what passes for an entrance to Malta's capital. Only pity is that the 'social' housing monstrosity across from Freedom Square will not be pulled down too.
@DCG. If KZT's piece was arrogant, yours was patronising to say the least.
@ Franco Farrugia. Go on, be honest and admit it. You will always find fault with whatever this administration does. And before you say it, No I don't agree with all this Government does, far from it.
However, your utterances about the exhibition being a ' Nationalist party Club'
and comparing it to the 'emperor's clothes' border on the inane. Piano's career portfolio has earned him accolades worldwide and whilst technical criticism coming from properly qualified quarters is both acceptable and desirable, that such as yours smacks of 'sour grapes' somehow.
Wonder if you would have said the same had the project been mooted by PL.?
J Micallef
Jun 30th 2009, 21:27
"Along with a thousand and one other guests I attended the launch of the Renzo Piano Project"
KZT, are you insulted that you had to attend this presentation with the masses and the common people, and that the presentation was not given to the selected few?
You seem to take this very personal. Mind you, your opinion is one of 400,000.
K. Mifsud
Jun 30th 2009, 19:51
Daphne, I am gobsmacked.
George Debono could not have put it better.
Antoine Vella
Jun 30th 2009, 17:31
Kenneth ZT
"every few minutes the slave who held the laurel wreath above his head whispered "Remember, thou art but mortal" in his ear. Perhaps the practice should be reintroduced."
And I see that you have volunteered to be that slave. Shouldn't you also be holding the laurel wreath above Gonzi's head? What re-enactment would it be otherwise?
So the fact that we don't have a museum of modern art is a tragedy but it doesn't matter if we don't have a parliament, . Tsk tsk...what is this country coming to? No concert hall for a philharmonic orchestra either. And you really think that people are gnashing their teeth about it.
Are we or are we not into art and culture?
r sammut
Jun 30th 2009, 15:27
Here is another one for the KZT solo performance! Yes Kenneth’s ability as pen pusher err button ticker is voicing the thoughts of many other silent individuals! No body doubts Piano’s ability, but his is not divine. The tune of Piano’s music is not pleasing all and sundry (pun not intended).
J Martinelli
Jun 30th 2009, 14:53
Had KZA intended to insult the intelligence of his fellow citizens, then he did a splendid job.
On the other hand he can rest assured that when Renzo Piano reads his piece, he will immediately start to do some soul searching and make note of the serious shortcomings pointed out by KZA and appoint him as his advisory assistant in order to avoid future serious blunders and / or omissions.
I suspect that if there was the least possibility of this project coming apart, KZA would be the first one to claim victory followed by 'I told you so' comment followed by another sixty years of discussion. However more acceptable the end result would be then, KZA would not be around to enjoy, anyway.
He reminds us of mortality while he forgets his own.
G.portelli
Jun 30th 2009, 12:28
Dear Kenneth we love you and your misguided disenfranchised enthusiasm for culture and the Arts.
."But who are you to accept it or not accept it? You are just an ordinary citizen, Kenneth, one of The People, as you take the time to remind us repeatedly. Like you, there are another 400,000.
'The democratic principle argues in favour of voicing opinions and objections. What the democratic principle rules in favour of is consultation with the people and not arbitrary decision making. I see some have the arbitrary right to voice said opinion but the rest of us 400,000 have not. The most desirable and edifying democratic environment apparently requires tax paying citizens not to question political decision making particularly when it insults the collective consciousness. Why unelected others assume they have the divine right to speak for the rest more than others eludes me.
It is unfortunate that the People's representatives have made a choice for the cultural bankruptcy of the Maltese nation. The culturally deprived generations to come will produce the tourist guides that will point fascinated visitors to the spot were the Spirit of Culture was martyred for Kudos and political patronage enshrined in a Piano creation.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 30th 2009, 12:09
@ Daphne Caruana Galizia: Actually, I have just returned from Valletta and I have been to the Exhibition.'People engaging with Piano's proposals with a mixture of enthusiasm and interest', you said? Hardly. It was like going inside a Nationalist Party club, that's what! People having nothing to do, coming up the stairs to see something which resembles an 'emperor's dress'!
That theatre is not a theatre. You know what it will be, Daphne? A glorified cess-pit during most of the months of the year, unable to be used as a theatre due to the natural elements. Refer to Dr Francis Zammit Dimech's article today.
Just because we have a Piano does not mean that we have to stand in awe similar to those people who saw the Emperor walk past them with no clothes on! If you want to be impressed by Piano, do so but stop trying to gag people from saying their bit.
You claim that KZT is arrogant - it's the case of the pot calling the kettle black.
D Grima
Jun 30th 2009, 11:57
Well done Kenneth..you are speaking for the majority of us who find this semi Caracalla obnoxious. Disregard those who comment with vested interest and carry on with your objective and fair criticism. Enough to say that in the poll conducted by The Times on the right hand side 71% of voters either do not like the hole project or only like part of it. The least liked is the Opera House. The Government did say that they dont want an Opera House but want a Parliament on that site. Well they got it.didn't they!
Mario Attard
Jun 30th 2009, 11:30
@ George Debono
Bullseye, mate!
Lucia Mizzi
Jun 30th 2009, 11:30
I think a Malta of 400,000 Kenneth ZTs would be a marvellous place to live. Even just 200,000 of them would do.
Anthony Galea
Jun 30th 2009, 11:11
Dear Daphne, maybe you are right in saying that Kennith is one out of 400,000, but is this really coming form you? As if you never aired your views practicaly on anytiing that comes to your mind, or maybe you consider yourself more than one in 400,000. I rest assure you that there are plenty of us who has the same thoughts and views of Kennith. Reno Paino worked with what he was breifed to do and was given the priorites that the Government wanted . Of coarse he is more than good. We are not doubting his ability. We are only doubting what is good and has been promised to us
the Prime Minister wanted a new parliament. He tried to hit two birds with one stone and build the parliament at the old opera site. The people where rightly against this. So what did Renzo Piano do? Give the Prime Minister the new parliament he wanted and since he had no budget for the opera house, he is just cleaning the area and give it a face lift. But let nobody tell us that we are having the opera house rebuilt.
George Debono
Jun 30th 2009, 10:48
Dear Daphne
As an experienced bridge player and lampuki piemaker (not to mention other insults which I found amusing – and which are a good indication of your arrogance).................
Here is what I think.
What you write is the most phenomenal epitome of hypocritical cheek I have ever come across.
G
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Jun 30th 2009, 10:30
Kenneth, much as I love you I will have to tell you this: please read your piece objectively to yourself and you will see that in tone, language and the sentiments expressed, it is the height of arrogance.
You presume to speak for others whose opinion you cannot gauge. You know better than one of the greatest architects of all time. You tell the prime minister what to do. You remind everyone else - as long as they do not agree with you - that they are mortal.
You announce that you are 'prepared to accept the plan' on condition of this and that. But who are you to accept it or not accept it? You are just an ordinary citizen, Kenneth, one of The People, as you take the time to remind us repeatedly. Like you, there are another 400,000 at least.
Take the time to visit the exhibition in Valletta, and you will see something that might surprise you: people engaging with Piano's proposals with a mixture of enthusiasm and interest.
Please, Kenneth, know that you are not the voice of The People but the voice of a particular - and particularly undemocratic - restricted social group.