Kolonna Eterna | |
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Kolonna Eterna | |
General information | |
Status | Intact |
Type | Commemorative monument |
Architectural style | Obelisk |
Location | San Gwann, Malta |
Coordinates | 35°54′36.2″N14°28′36.2″E / 35.910056°N 14.476722°E |
Named for | Eternity |
Completed | 2003 |
Owner | Government of Malta |
Technical details | |
Material | Ceramic |
Kolonna Eterna (English: Eternal Column), also known as the Millennium Monument, is a 21st-century monumental column in San Gwann, Malta. The column is an abstract art designed by Paul Vella Critien, a Maltese local artist that achieved his studies and experience in Italy and Australia.
The monument is a commemoration of the new (third) millennium as part of an initiative by the San Gwann Local Council. The monument was inaugurated in 2003 by the Prime Minister of Malta Dr Eddie Fenech Adami. The monument came to the national attention because it was largely described as having a phallic appearance. The monument is found in front of Santa Margerita Chapel.
The Kolonna Eterna was the first local monument by Paul Vella Critien to be installed in a public space and officiated on 27 February 2003. [1] [2] Behind the project was the San Gwann Local Council which pushed the idea of decorating public gardens with the inclusion of well established local artists' art. [1] Paul Vella Critien has received art education in Italy and had already experience as an artist career when he lived in Australia. Since its erection the monument had already caught the attention of the public because of its phallic appearance however it is intended to represent an Egyptian obelisk pointing to the open skies as a symbol to eternity. [3] [4]
The 6 meters ceramic structure was inaugurated by back then Prime Minister in Office Eddie Fenech Adami, later President of Malta. [2] The monument had a public ceremony that was attended by the Prime Minister himself, the artist, the Local Mayor of San Gwann, local councillors, member of the Nationalist Party, distinct politicians, the general public and local media such as the Times of Malta. [3] [1]
Subsequent to the Kolonna Eterna, Paul Vella Critien was invited to create another Monument by the Government of Malta under Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. The different but similar phallic appearance is the Colonna Mediterranea in Luqa, Malta. Different from Kolonna Eterna the Luqa Monument had no legal permits for its erection on place, had staunch opposition by the local mayor, it stands on the peripheries of Luqa and not under the responsibility of the local council and had local opposition specifically because of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Malta where the pope mobile had to pass by it. [3] [5] [6]
However the San Gwann general public has several artistic monument being erected in different places and the Kolonna Eterna largely integrated within the landscape of the area; even if so some local have called for its removal because of its phallic nature. [3] Eventually in 2015 Paul Vella Critien had inaugurated another monument at Naxxar Higher Secondary School which had not similar controversy. [7]
On the lower-back-side of Kolonna Eterna it is written:
On the plaque uncovered by Eddie Fenech Adami it is written: [1]
Kunsill Lokali San GwannL-Onor Eddie Fenech Adami
Illum 27 ta' Frar, 2003
Prim Ministru
Inawgura il-Kolonna Eterna
Dominic Mintoff, was a Maltese Socialist politician, architect, and civil engineer who was leader of the Labour Party from 1949 to 1984, and was 8th Prime Minister of Malta from 1955 to 1958, when Malta was still a British colony, and again, following independence, from 1971 to 1984. His tenure as Prime Minister saw the creation of a comprehensive welfare state, nationalisation of large corporations, a substantial increase in the general standard of living and the establishment of the Maltese republic, but was later on marred by a stagnant economy, a rise in authoritarianism and outbreaks of political violence.
Edoardo "Eddie" Fenech Adami, is a Maltese politician and Nationalist politician who served as the prime minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996, and again from 1998 until 2004. Subsequently, he was the seventh president of Malta from 2004 to 2009. He led his party to win four general elections, in 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2003, as well as the majority of votes in 1981. Staunchly pro-European, Fenech Adami was fundamental for Malta's accession to the European Union.
Black Monday in Malta refers to 15 October 1979 when the Progress Press and the home of Eddie Fenech Adami, then Leader of the Opposition, were ransacked following a rally by the Labour Party.
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Raymond Caruana was a Maltese political activist affiliated with the Nationalist Party (PN). Caruana was murdered in a drive-by shooting at a PN club in Gudja.
General elections were held in Malta on 17 and 18 September 1976. The Malta Labour Party remained the largest party, winning 34 of the 65 seats.
Tonio Fenech is a Maltese politician who served in the government of Malta as Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment from March 2008 to March 2013, and was a member of the Parliament of Malta from 2003 to 2017.
The Maltese order of precedence is a conventionally set list. It is only used as a guide for protocol.
Phallic architecture consciously or unconsciously creates a symbolic representation of the human penis. Buildings intentionally or unintentionally resembling the human penis are a source of amusement to locals and tourists in various places around the world. Deliberate phallic imagery is found in ancient cultures and in the links to ancient cultures found in traditional artifacts.
Colonna Mediterranea commonly known as The Luqa Monument is a 21st-century landmark obelisk in Luqa, Malta. The abstract art has created local and international controversy over its phallic appearance.
Santa Margerita Chapel, also known as Arar Chapel, is a 16th century chapel in San Gwann, Malta. The chapel was built for the farmers working the surrounding fields. At the time, attacks from the sea were common.
Karin Grech Garden, officially Karin Grech Playing Field, is a public garden and playing field in San Ġwann, Malta. The garden is named after Karin Grech, a letterbomb victim.
The Devil's Farmhouse, also known in Maltese as Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan, and officially as Ir-Razzett Tax-Xjaten, is an 18th-century farmhouse in Mellieħa, Malta. The farmhouse features two unconnected buildings. The original scope for the buildings were to function as stables and a horse-riding school (Cavalerizza).
Lorry Sant was a Maltese activist, trade unionist and Malta Labour Party politician who held a number of ministerial offices between 1971 and 1987. Sant was a controversial figure who had an aggressive leadership approach. In the 1980s he was involved in incidents of political violence, and he has been held responsible for violating the human rights of his employees.
Anthony P. Galdes is a Maltese economist. He was Governor of the Central Bank of Malta from June 1987 to May 1993, the first Maltese to serve in the post.