The Calm Before the Storm, a photographic exhibition featuring 25 photos shot in Malta during King George V’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations between May 5 and 12, 1935 is being organised by APS Bank.

The photos, printed from the digitised version of the original, are of historical and sociological importance.

The exhibition combines the art of photography with the political and social history of the Maltese islands, resurrecting memories of historical events that marked the harsh realities of the World War of 1939-1945 from the Malta National Archives and other private sources.

Exhibition curator, Kevin Casha, said that in 2003 the Malta National Picture Archive was set up in Santo Spirito, Rabat, with the help of national archivist Charles Farrugia.

This started off the process of digitising and saving local photographs for research and posterity.

“The photographs on show make up part of the photographic collection at the National Archives and have been reprinted from the digitised versions.

“Although some post processing has been done, in order to crop to a particular size and to bring out the tonal range as best as possible, no attempt to alter or change the essential content of the images has been done.

“This is in order to keep the photographs factual and remain faithful to reportage and journalistic ethics. Furthermore, the same deterioration that usually affects a photographic print seems to make it so much more magical and mysterious.”

APS Bank chairman E.P. Delia said that this exhibition is part of the bank’s initiative to support events which explore and highlight the rich heritage that has marked the development of Maltese society over the centuries.

To mark the occasion, the bank has published a related publication edited by Casha.

The Calm Before the Storm is open until June 30 from Monday to Friday from 8.30 am until1pm and on Saturday from 8.30am to 11am at the APS head office in Swatar, Birkirkara.