I'M not old enough to remember certain incidents regarding the censorship of the visual arts in Malta. All I have to go by are texts in books, or random stories from witnesses or artists themselves... those involving the works of Caesar Attard or Eman Grima for instance, whose works had been specifically censored because of the coupling of religion and nudity.

What I do remember however, is Lawrence Buttigieg's show at the Auberge d'Italie a while back, and the fuss it created, because of his oversize nudes, whose genitalia often stared at us in the face. I remember Shaun Grech's provacative pieces exhibited in a number of localities, and the list just goes on.

Going to the other extreme, what if the opportunity arose to showcase the work of someone like Paul McCarthy? What would Malta do in that case? Refuse to show his work? Dub him as blasphemous, deprived of all rationality?

Actually, he probably wouldn't even be considered lest it were for some private enterprise to take on such an initiative. But does censorship mean that the works of audacious artists, poets, playwrights is bad, wrong or irrelevant? Who can put a label on creativity after all? No one... just because it might offend or shock doesn't make it any less significant. Our culture is obsessed with the body and with appearance yet dressing ever so scantily is more than acceptable but viewing a work of art of an overtly naked/nude person isn't and still causes a stir.

For decades the proper study of the nude in Malta was inaccessible to artists. Only while on scholarship abroad could they get proper training in anatomy and figure drawing.

Even when artist Josef Kalleya set up his Scuola Libera del Nudo it did not last long because of pressure exerted by the School of Art, the Church and by complaining neighbours. It is only in the last couple of decades that life classes have become acceptable, both in public schools and privately for individual artists.

Exhibitions such as The Life Model: Between Nude and Naked are a step in the right direction. Hopefully, in the near future we will see other similarly "provocative" shows, perhaps dealing with sexuality in art or politics in art.

It is also refreshing to have foreign artists participate in shows. Malta is lacking in shows by foreign and international artists, but hopefully the people behind the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, The British Council, The Malta Contemporary Art Foundation and others still will keep working hard at acheiving a much-needed change for art in Malta, as well as proving what a serious means of expression and identity art constitutes. Then perhaps we will finally get our Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

■ Curated by Patrick J. Fenech, The Life Model: Between Nude and Naked, is showing at No. 68 St Lucy Street, Valletta till July 31. The seven participating artists are: Anton Calleja, Jeni Caruana, Patrick Dalli, Alexandra Pace, Vince Briffa, Astrid Steinbrecher and Zygimantas Augustinas. The exhibition forms part of this year's Malta Arts Festival. Opening hours are: Monday to Friday from 10a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 6 p.m.; weekends from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The above text was written by the author for the inauguration of the exhibition and adapted from her contribution to the catalogue's text.