Keit Bonnici questions the relevance of The George Cross on the Maltese flag at MUŻA
Keit Bonnici sparks conversations once again. Known to be a transdisciplinary conceptual artist and designer. His work is usually made of objects, performative interventions and narratives that question the social and political territories of space; speculating on alternative and obscured realities hidden within the mundane fabric of everyday life.
His latest work ‘Għandna salib’ / ‘In dependence’ 2021, is a self- commissioned piece questioning the George Cross. It’s relevance, importance and impact on our identity. The timing for this piece is a crucial part of this intervention, just in time for indepence day. The newly designed flag was almost identical to Malta’s original flag – leaving out the distinctive part with the George Cross and replacing it with an empty box in red.The so called George Cross has been recreated in a form of a cushioned design on the floor, almost like it was thrown away or just have fallen off from the flag.
In his facebook post Keit posts videos and other photos along with the artwork intervention photos, which make reference to independence day, imperialism and freedom from years of servitude to the British. Creating a paradox to the relevance of the cross after 57 years of celebrated indepence.
Why MUŻA ?
Being a so called ‘self commissioned’ piece means that of course MUŻA was not aware of this intervention. This makes us definitely question, why MUŻA? what is the link? Keit has been involved in the exhibition ‘No Ordinary Terrain‘ earlier on this year at MUŻA, which has given him time to navigate the space as well as question. In an interview with the Times of Malta Keith states:
“An art museum also represents who we are as a nation and how the story is told. Are we telling history through an independent country veil? Do we look at things through a colonial veil?”
This is not the first time that Keit has sparked these discussions and will definitely not be the last. In his last work, Keit Bonnici creates a dialogue with Queen Elizabeth II by sending her a personal, handmade postcard, to ask her about her opinion on the prospect of removing the statute of Queen Victoria – her great-great grandmother – from Valletta’s Pjazza Regina.
These conceptual artistic interventions may be not so common on the island, but they are definitely needed. Most think of Artists as having the traditional skill or artistic ability to produce aesthetically pleasing visual work. Conceptual art is all about the idea itself. In conceptualism, there is more importance placed on the planning and decisions that go into the work, than on the end result. Art is about having the ability to provoke, express, question and discuss.
Keit has definitely broken the silence in a splendid way, and we can’t wait to see more!
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