Kolonna Eterna

Last updated
Kolonna Eterna
Kolonna Eterna
Kolonna Eterna, San Gwann..jpeg
View of the Kolonna Eterna
Kolonna Eterna
General information
StatusIntact
TypeCommemorative monument
Architectural style Obelisk
Location San Gwann, Malta
Coordinates 35°54′36.2″N14°28′36.2″E / 35.910056°N 14.476722°E / 35.910056; 14.476722
Named forEternity
Completed2003
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.

Contents

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 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.

History

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]

Detail of Kolonna Eterna from the front Kolonna Eterna detail.jpeg
Detail of Kolonna Eterna from the front

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]

Signature of Paul Vella Critien on Kolonna Eterna Paul Vella Critien Kolonna Eterna.jpeg
Signature of Paul Vella Critien on Kolonna Eterna

On the lower-back-side of Kolonna Eterna it is written:

Paul Vella Critien

"Kolonna Eterna"
San Gwann, Malta, '2000'

Plaque

Plaque inaugurated by Eddie Fenech Adami Plaque Kolonna Eterna.jpeg
Plaque inaugurated by Eddie Fenech Adami

On the plaque uncovered by Eddie Fenech Adami it is written: [1]

Kunsill Lokali San Gwann

L-Onor Eddie Fenech Adami
Prim Ministru
Inawgura il-Kolonna Eterna

Illum 27 ta' Frar, 2003

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dom Mintoff</span> Maltese politician (1916–2012)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Fenech Adami</span> Maltese politician (born 1934)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cospicua</span> Local council in Port Region, Malta

Cospicua (Italian) or Bormla, occasionally also known by the Latin name Cottonera, is a double-fortified harbour city in the Port Region of Malta. As Maleth, it served as the principal port of Phoenician Malta and, through Greek, Latin, and Arabic, may have given its name to the island and country. Along with Birgu and Senglea, it is one of the Three Cities located within the Grand Harbour to the east of the capital city Valletta. With a population of 5,395 as of March 2014, it is the most dense city of the Three Cities. Locals are known for their Cottonera dialect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Ġwann</span> Local council in Northern Region, Malta

San Ġwann is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 14,244 as of 2021. Prior to its establishment as a distinct municipality, it was a fragmented community comprising parts of Birkirkara and St. Julian's. San Ġwann emerged as a new parish in 1965 and was officially recognised as a town in 1968. The Local Councils Act of 1993 identified San Gwann as a separate district with its own statutory local government authority, marking its transition from being part of the neighbouring localities. With the first San Gwann Council was elected on 16 April 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenech</span> Surname list

Fenech is a surname about whose origins there are several hypotheses. The most notable is the meaning of "rabbit", since fenek is rabbit in Maltese. This in turn comes from the Arabic word for fox, ‏فنك‎ which like the rabbit has large ears as its distinguishing feature and may have been confused during the development of the Maltese language, which is a descendant of the Siculo-Arabic dialect. The word is also thought to be a respelling of Fenich, the German for millet farmer. A possible Persian derivation of the word has also been suggested.

This page list topics related to Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Maltese general election</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greece–Malta relations</span> Bilateral relations

Since 2004, Greece has had an embassy in Valletta and accredited its first ambassador to Malta. Before that date, the Greek embassy in Rome was accredited for Malta. Malta has an embassy in Athens and two honorary consulates in Piraeus and Thessaloniki. The two countries share membership of the European Union and of the Union for the Mediterranean.

The Maltese order of precedence is a conventionally set list. It is only used as a guide for protocol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phallic architecture</span> Architectural or sculptural structures representing the human penis

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonna Mediterranea</span> Decorative Egyptian obelisk in Luqa, Malta

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Margerita Chapel</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ta' Xindi Farmhouse</span> Farmhouse, Headquarters, Residential in San Ġwann, Malta

Ta' Xindi Farmhouse, also known as the Ta' Xindi Headquarters and Kappara Outpost, is an 18th-century farmhouse built during the Order of St. John in San Ġwann, Malta. It was originally designed to be a farmhouse but went through different adaptive reuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karin Grech Garden</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil's Farmhouse</span> Farmhouse, Stables, Horse-riding school in Mellieha, Malta

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 was to function as stables and a horse-riding school (Cavalerizza).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorry Sant</span>

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 and abusive 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Guillaumier, Alfie (2005). Bliet u Rħula Maltin (in Maltese). Santa Venera: Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 737. ISBN   99932-39-40-2.
  2. 1 2 "Paul Vella Critien".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "New Monument". Times of Malta . 28 February 2003. OCLC   220797156. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  4. "San Gwann", San Gwann Local Council, 2010.
  5. Chetcuti Kristina (2012), "No vulgarity in my art", Times of Malta.
  6. Chetcuti Kristina (2013), "Restored Luqa monument putting Malta on the map", Times of Malta.
  7. "Paul Vella Critien", 2015.