On reading former president Ugo Mifsud Bonnici’s book Konvinzjoni u Esperjenza, I took particular interest where reference was made to the commission and execution of the Independence monument.

While appreciating Mifsud Bonnici’s appraisal of my work, I was at the same time astonished when he wrote: “Kelli nispjegalu xi xtaqna mingħandu: figura ta’ mara żagħżugħa, qed tinħall mill-irbit, qed iżżid il-fiduċja fiha nnifsiha, qed tħares bi sfida lejn il-futur”.

(“I had to explain what we expected from him: a sculpture of a young woman, freeing herself, gaining in confidence, boldly looking towards the future.”)

I took exception to those words because they gave the impression that the whole artistic idea was the Cabinet’s. In actual fact, it was Paul Naudi, chairman of the Committee for the Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Independence, who had contacted me and asked me to prepare a scale model for a monument commemorating Independence.

In the competition, which was held before for that purpose and in which I did not participate, no indication was given as to what form this monument had to take.

When no one was chosen, Naudi commissioned me to prepare a scale model, and even then, he gave me no direction regarding what the sculpture should look like.The whole artistic idea of the monument was mine and not as indicated in the book.

I contacted Mifsud Bonnici for a clarification and in a letter dated June 16 he affirmed: “L-iżvilupp tal-idea huwa kollu kemm huwa ta’ Ġanni Bonnici. Huwa l-artist. Il-Ministru u l-Kabinett ma kellhom u ma ppretendew l-ebda meritu ħlief li għamlu għażla tajba meta ħadna d-deċiżjoni li nagħżlu lill-iskultur Bonnici għal dan l-inkarigu.”

(“The idea was Gianni Bonnici’s. He is the artist. The minister and the Cabinet had no say in the matter except that they made the wise decision to appoint the sculptor Bonnici for the task.”)

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