FIRST May 2019

MAY 2019

SPRING LIFE

STARRING JOAN HAYES, PIPPA TOLEDO, LEONARDO DA VINCI, THE NURSES AT SAMOC, RICHARD GERES, STEFANO ITTAR, MASSIMO LISTRI, AARON FARRUGIA, ROBERTA METSOLA, MIRIAM DALLI, ROBERT MICALLEF, STEPHEN LA ROSA, LADY JULIA LOCKWOOD, MADONNA

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EDITORIAL LEONARDO DA VINCI IS THE PROTOTYPICAL UNIVERSAL GENIUS OF THE RENAISSANCE AND NEVER FAILS TO INTRIGUE AND CAPTIVATE. THIS YEAR EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD WILL COMMEMORATE THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH IN 1519.

LEONARDO DA VINCI’S ST. JEROME AT THE MET FIFTH AVENUE JULY 15 - OCTOBER 6, 2019

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). St. Jerome Praying in the Wilderness, begun ca. 1483. Oil on wood, 103 x 74 cm. Vatican City, Musei Vaticani. Photo © Governatorate of the Vatican City State – Vatican Museums. All rights reserved.

o commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, this summer visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the artist’s monumental unfinished masterpiece St. Jerome Praying in the Wilderness, a special loan from the Vatican Museums. The exquisite painting provides an extraordinary glimpse into Leonardo's creative process - and a close examination of the paint surface reveals the presence of his fingerprints. Opening this July 15, Leonardo da Vinci’s St. Jerome will pay homage to one of the most renowned geniuses of all time. At The Met, the painting will be displayed in a gallery by itself, starkly illuminated within an otherwise darkened space in order to heighten the picture’s contemplative dimension, which Leonardo intended. The solemn, chapel-like setting will be an evocative nod to the funerals of great Italian artists, which typically featured one of the artist’s works as part of the funerary display.

his past April the team at The Malta Independent, Publishers of First Magazine, lost one of their colleagues, longstanding sub-editor and proof-reader Joan Hayes. The following day former colleague Joanna Demarco uploaded this Instagram post, which we wished to reproduce here. Several months ago Joanna had met up with Joan for a cup of tea - this post recalls their conversation that day and celebrates Joan's joie de vivre, her colourful floral dresses and her thoughts on love and thinking about others.

_joannademarco The most amazing thing about photography or journalism is that it gives you the opportunity to meet people, enter their lives, listen to them and their story and get to know them in a way that otherwise you probably would have not.

Yesterday (23rd April) we heard the sad news that Joan, a long- me proofreader at The Malta Independent passed away. She had an infec ous joie de vivre, wore colourful floral dresses and lips ck and possessed a character which is rare to find in someone of her genera on; she was strong willed, caring and always cracking jokes, and known for bringing around a box of biscuits (with pink icing) to the office to cheer up all those working on a Sunday. I remembered that when I had started working there I was immediately struck by Joan and wanted to know more about her. She invited me over for a cup of tea and I took her portrait and asked lots of ques ons. She spoke fondly of all her grandchildren and about how she sees the world.

“Love does not exist as much anymore, people don’t care anymore, they are too self-involved, they just think about money and what they can acquire... it’s become so shallow,” she said, concerned, explaining that this country can do with a bit more love and care towards one another.

Today I listened to this interview again and thought about the biscuits with pink icing, and how, although she was o en in pain, buying them and bringing them each week without fail, was Joan’s own li le way of thinking of others and spreading kindness.

EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT ADVERTISING SUPPORT ILARIA MOUSU IALMOUSU@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY 6

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CONTENTS

13

INTERVIEW

65 questions with prolific creative Pippa Toledo.

16

16

ARTS & CULTURE

500 years of Leonardo - 8 things you may not know about the Renaissance genius.

22

LONDON CALLING

Queen Elizabeth shares her overwhelming collection in this summer’s landmark exhibition.

24

PARIS CALLING

Louvre blockbuster - book now for October’s unprecedented retrospective.

26

CULTURE OF FASHION Camp: Notes on Fashion.

30

FASHION

Spring Street Style - update your wardrobe with fresh pieces.

Leonardo da Vinci, The head of Leda, c.1505-8. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019. Celebrate 500 years of Leonardo.

48

HEALTH & FITNESS

40

The C-Word. Behind the scenes with the nurses and helpers at SAMOC.

46

Benefits of exercise for cancer survivors.

Richard Geres explains.

66

Investing EU Funds – Extensive works on the tunnel between Pembroke and Ta’ Qali are well underway.

71

Il-Ġnien tal-Milorda – these are the wonderful Sa Maison Gardens.

GELATO GLADIATOR – Our pick of the best gelaterias in the Eternal City.

10

CONTENTS

[ M AY IS SUE 201 9]

68 Go Roman with Stephen La Rosa's fragrant Saltimbocca

50

50

FASHION NOTES

Malta’s National Library and the Polish connection.

Get ready for summer with beach proof clothes.

51

Supermodel inspired swimwear.

HERITAGE

BOOKS

The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries by Massimo Listri.

66

ROMAN CUISINE The National Library of Malta recently added a rare item to its map collection - Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio (Antwerp, 1570) – a decorative composite map of six Mediterranean islands by Abraham Ortelius.

13

GELATO GLADIATOR Our pick of the best gelaterias will keep your cravings in check in the Eternal City.

68

ROMAN CLASSIC

28 36

PROMOTIONS

38 Express Trailers’ Franco Azzopardi.

70 Seed Dance Studio’s Artistic Director Marisha Bonnici.

58

INVESTMENTS

Investing EU funds in natural environments and cultural spaces.

Stephen La Rosa cooks up Pork Saltimbocca with braised cabbage and carrot puree.

EP ELECTIONS

72

Proud Maltese, Passionate European – Roberta Metsola explains.

GARDENS.

Il-Ġnien tal-Milorda.

Wonderful Sa Maison Gardens.

78

POP CULTURE

It’s time for a new album.

Say hello to Madame X.

60 62

Believing in the next level – Miriam Dalli shares her thoughts.

64

From EU negotiator to MEP candidate – Robert Micallef discusses his views.

40 Meet the nurses and helpers at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre.

Pippa Toledo is known for her vibrant use of colour in paintings.

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SIZES 38 - 54

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INTERVIEW

65 QUESTIONS Pippa Toledo has been in the design business for 35 years.

FIRST caught up with this prolific creative to find out what she would do if she had a superpower, the best piece of advice she's ever received and what she still has from her childhood. Portrait photograph by Majda Toumi. hat are you most excited about in life right now? My granddaughter. How do you usually relax? I paint. What’s the first thing you did this morning? I fed the dogs.

What’s your go-to breakfast? Oats and berries. What’s your favourite guilty pleasure?

Yoghurt ice cream (laughing). Pippa how would you describe yourself? Calm... very calm, that’s all really. Messy or neat? Messy. Who do you admire the most?

Can I say the Pope? The Pope – because he’s got a lot to handle.

What are you reading right now? It’s a really good book – The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck. Favourite book? I don’t have many favourites, I like light reading. Favourite film? A Star is Born with Lady Gaga, I really enjoyed it. Favourite song? One of hers at the moment, Shallow. Favourite singer? Cat Stevens.

If you had a superpower what would it be? If I had a superpower?

To have peace in the world. (Pippa’s daughter Ninnia says – I don’t think it would be that, I think it would be to make more time in the day. More time in the day? You think so? More time for you to do things. Definitely! But it’s your question not mine. But why would I want more time in the day, when there’s so much unrest around the world. Why think of me?)

What is something you would love to learn? I think I would have loved to be an architect. What is the wildest thing you have ever done in your life? I’m not very adventurous.... adventurous??... my life is full of adventure, in the sense that every day is an adventure, because you never know what’s going to happen.

If you were not running Pippa Toledo Design how would you be spending your time? Painting. What excites you most about interior design and creating pieces? That everything I design is not the same.

Whether it’s jewellery or interiors, every project I have, or everything I work on is always different. What is the best part about your job? It’s not the best part of my job, because I have a new job every day... I mean there are jobs all the time... so it’s always the best, because there is always something new and exciting. What is the hardest thing about your job? When people are disappointed. Or, actually, the hardest part about my job is trying to keep peace between my staff and people around me. That’s the hardest part – not my work, because I love my work.

What’s your greatest achievement? My children. How would you describe your personal style? I’m a very casual person. What is your favourite design style? A mix. I‘ve worked for the past 35 years now, and so I’ve gone through many different styles in my life. In the end it’s a mix of everything I know.

In fact that gets to the next question – what is a design style you wish would never return? Every style, whether it’s modern – or an older style, whatever ‘style’... you need everything in life. Then it depends how capable you are of mixing them. What about minimalism? No I like minimalism – if it’s done properly... because you can have a really minimalist project – and then you can add something old or antique to make it pop. From a design perspective, what’s the most inspiring city or place you’ve ever visited and why? India! It’s such a colourful country. There’s a lot of poverty, yet they’re such a happy and colourful people. Everything about them is beautiful.

Years ago you opened your first boutique at the corner of Dingli Street and Blanche Street in Sliema. How did that come about? That belonged to my father and his two nephews and that’s how it came about, and that’s where I first started working many many moons ago. It started as a furniture shop called Classica, and then from

furniture we moved into fashion and I turned it into Pippa’s. I did a mix. First I started with furniture – designing furniture and interiors and then we started designing clothes, it was a time when importing clothes was very difficult, and then after that, then I branched off alone. Before that, when I was 16, I used to make costume jewellery and I used to hand paint on T-shirts and then sell to hotels. Do you remember the first item you ever sold? A hand painted T-shirt (laughing).

How did you move into interior design? My father had a share in a furniture company and I started designing furniture for them and moved on to interiors from there, this was as I said, many moons ago. And I’m still here thank God. What is a favourite fabric that you love to incorporate into your interior design work? A favourite fabric – I’m going to explain myself first – what I like doing is using something very plain for something like curtains, but then coming out really strong with a nice fabric like a velvet or a silk for a cushion or whatever, as an accessory, or an armchair. Pattern or texture?

Again a mix.▶ 13

INTERVIEW

Right: Pippa is known for her vibrant use of colour in her paintings.

Below: One of Pippa’s fashion shows from the 80s

◀How has the interior design business changed over the years? It’s changed because people are looking for interior designers more now. At the beginning, when I started it was quite limited. Now people depend on interior designers... we do a lot of things, it’s not just choosing fabrics, there’s a lot that goes into the whole interior design package. What would be your dream design project? Thank God I’ve done quite a bit in the last 35 years, I can’t really say I’d like to do this or that because I’ve touched on everything. A dream project? A project without problems, a client without problems. A free hand for everything (laughing).

Pippa besides interior design you also paint and design accessories.

What’s your favourite thing to design? The jewellery, I love designing jewellery. What’s one thing in your closet you could never part with? (laughing) I’ve got a mess at the moment! Everything! (more laughing) Everything? I have a mess! What is your favourite colour? It’s not even a colour because I’m always in black.

What time of day are you most creative? I think it can be anytime. Do you have to be in a certain mood to paint and design? Painting depends a lot on your mood – if I’m not in the mood to paint, forget it, I will not paint. Designing is a job now, I come to work and I have to work. But painting is different. That’s the relaxing part. Even creating a piece of jewellery. A lot depends on your mood – I remember when my father passed away all my paintings were just – very very very dark. But then, if you’re in a good mood they’re colourful. But if you’re in a bad mood – forget it!

When does inspiration often strike for you? You could be driving in the car, you could be anywhere. You can see something interesting and say ‘wow I’d do that‘. Do you like quiet when designing or having music playing? I love music. Who is your favourite artist? The Caruana Dinglis and the Calis. What are your favourite flowers?

Hortensias, tiger lillies, and gebras – they’re really pretty.

Two years ago you opened a new shop with your daughter – how did 14

you come up with the idea? We were down at the ferries and I thought ‘it would be a great idea to have a shop here, because it’s bang in the middle‘. And there was this little shop in the corner and Ninnia told me, ‘look ma, that’s a good shop’. And I got the number and we got it. What are 3 things you’ve learnt from working with your daughter? To have a lot of patience! Patience! What else Ninn?

You’re a pain in the arse (laughs). No, she’s a great support. She is a perfectionist. With me anything goes really, but with her, I‘ve learnt that she’s quite OCD. I‘ve had to learn to deal with her OCD, which is totally opposite from me.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? From my mother – I’m going to give you a quote, she said: ‘The past is history and tomorrow is a mystery’. Because, you never know. What advice would you give to an upcoming designer? Think twice before you take on the job! If you’re ready to handle quite a bit go for it. If not... it’s not as easy as it looks, it’s a lot of hard work. How do you react to criticism? I can take criticism.

What is one cause that you care deeply about? You know what – lately my mother has been in hospital for the past two months, and now she’s gone to Karen Grech – I was mentioning this earlier.

Jaħasra our parents work all their lives, and it’s not that my mother can’t afford to go somewhere else, it’s not the case... Now I’m talking on behalf of all the old people that end up at Karen Grech. The nursing is fantastic! But the place itself... if I had to think of a cause today that I think people need to address is old people – they‘re treated like they’re at their end – but they‘ve worked all their lives and they need the best. It’s really sad. I think we really need to see to these old people and the way they’re treated. Jaħasra. We’re all going to end up there. It’s not the nursing, because the nursing is very good. But the place, the place is a mess. You have to put your parents there to know how bad it is... jaħasra.

If you could rule the world for one day what would you make a law?

A law? No swearing! Something that really annoys you? Copycats.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken? I don’t have to be anywhere, I can sit in my garden and enjoy my plants and my flowers, I don’t have to be anywhere in the world to have a vacation.

What country have you always wanted to visit? Japan. What is your favourite city outside Malta and why? I love Rome because it’s like a second home to me. Besides Malta where would you live? I love Malta, I don’t think I’d choose anywhere else.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received? My children. Pippa what’s your favourite food? Thai.

Favourite drink? I don’t drink, I’m a water person. 3 things you cannot live without? My children, my dogs and my granddaughter. What is your current obsession? (We go through these quite a bit, Ninnia laughs.) Weight! Favourite thing to do with friends? Laugh.

What is one thing about you people would be surprised to know?

That I’m a very shy person. If there was anyone in the world you could choose to live next door to you, who would it be? My sisters.

Anyone you could have coffee with in the world, who would it be?

Just a coffee? I don’t know. Is there anyone in history you would like to have met? Ghandi. What’s something you still have from your childhood? Values.

ARTS & CULTURE

Ginevra de’ Benci, 1474-1478, oil on panel. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund.

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ARTS & CULTURE

8 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT LEONARDO DA VINCI, ON THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH Mona Lisa, 1503-1506, oil on poplar wood. Louvre, Paris. Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Lady with an Ermine, oil and tempera on wood panel, 1490. Czartoryski Museum, Krakรณw, Poland. Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

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ARTS & CULTURE This year marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death. Widely considered one of the greatest polymaths in human history, Leonardo was an inventor, artist, musician, architect, engineer, anatomist, botanist, geologist, historian and cartographer says Richard Gunderman.

Saint John the Baptist, 15131516, oil on panel.

Louvre, Paris.

Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

Though his artistic output was small, Leonardo’s impact was great, reflecting his deep knowledge of the body, his extensive studies of light and the human face, and his sfumato (Italian for “smoky”) technique, which allowed for incredibly lifelike images. Leonardo regarded artists as divine apprentices, writing “We, by our arts, may be called the grandsons of God.” Twenty-first-century scholars at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked him the sixth most influential person who ever lived. Like Rembrandt and Michelangelo, he is so renowned that he is known by only his first name. Yet despite his fame, there are things about Leonardo that many people today find surprising.

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hady parentage. Leonardo was born out of wedlock on April 15, 1452. His father, Piero, was a wealthy notary, and his mother, Caterina, was a local peasant girl.

Although the circumstances of his birth would place Leonardo at a disadvantage in terms of education and inheritance, biographer Walter Isaacson regards it as a terrific stroke of luck.

Rather than being expected to become a notary like his father, Leonardo was instead free to develop the full range of his genius.

People surmise that it also imbued him with a special sense of urgency to establish his own identity and prove himself.

The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, 15001513, oil on poplar wood. Louvre, Paris.

Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

Salvator Mundi, 1500, oil on walnut. Louvre Abu Dhabi. The painting was sold at Christie’s New York, November 15, 2017, for $450.3 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

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hysical beauty. Leonardo created some of the world’s most beautiful works of art, including the “Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa.” In his own day, he was known as an exceptionally attractive person. One of Leonardo’s biographers describes him as a person of “outstanding physical beauty who displayed infinite grace in everything he did.” A contemporary described him as a “well proportioned, graceful, and good-looking man” who “wore a rose-pink tunic” and had “beautiful curling hair, carefully styled, which came down to the middle of his chest.” Leonardo is thought to have entered into long-term and possibly sexual relationships with two of his pupils, both artists in their own right.

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rom scraps to notebooks. The paintings generally attributed to Leonardo number fewer than 20, while his notebooks contain over 7,000 pages. They’re the best source of knowledge about Leonardo, housed today in locations such as Windsor Castle, the Louvre and the Spanish National Library in Madrid. Their diverse content ranges across drawings – most famously, Vitruvian Man – notes of things he wanted to investigate, scientific and technical diagrams and shopping lists. They comprise perhaps the most remarkable monument to human curiosity and creativity ever produced by a single person. Yet when Leonardo penned them, they were just loose pieces of paper of different types and sizes. His friends bound them into “notebooks” only after his death.▶ 19

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and the Infant Saint John the Baptist (‘The Burlington House Cartoon’), about 14991500, charcoal (and wash?) heightened with white chalk on paper, mounted on canvas. The National Gallery, London.

Purchased with a special grant and contributions from the Art Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and through a public appeal organised by the Art Fund, 1962.

Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

This study by Leonardo da Vinci is done with a nearly seamless sfumato technique. It is closely connected to the final design of Leonardo’s oil painting on panel, the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (Louvre, Paris). The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right, 1510–1513, black chalk, charcoal, and red chalk, with some traces of white chalk. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1951.

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utsider’s education. As a result of his illegitimacy, Leonardo received a rather rudimentary formal education consisting primarily of business arithmetic. He never attended university and sometimes referred to himself as an “unlettered man.” Yet his lack of formal schooling also freed him from the constraints of tradition, helping to instill in him a determination to question authority and place greater reliance on his own experience than opinions expressed in books. As a result, he became a firsthand observer and experimenter, uninterested in serving as a mouthpiece for the classics.

oyal admirer. Soon after King Francis I of France captured Milan in 1516, Leonardo entered his service, spending the last years of his life in a house near the royal residence. When death came to Leonardo on May 2, 1519 at the age of 67, it is said that the king, who loved to listen to Leonardo talk so much that he was hardly ever apart from him, cradled his head as he breathed his last. Years later, reflecting on his friendship with the great man, King Francis said, “No man possessed such a knowledge of painting, sculpture, or architecture as Leonardo, but the same goes for philosophy. He was a great philosopher.

rolific procrastinator. Although Leonardo’s mind was extraordinarily fertile, he was also an inveterate procrastinator and even quitter. He frequently took months or years to begin work on commissions, sometimes keeping patrons at bay with lofty pronouncements regarding his creative process. A giant equestrian statue for the duke of Milan, requiring 70 tons of bronze to cast, might have been his grandest work – if it had ever been completed. Yet a decade after the 1482 commission, Leonardo had produced only a clay model which was subsequently destroyed when invading French soldiers used it for target practice.

kyrocketing value. In November 2017, one of the paintings attributed to Leonardo, “Salvator Mundi” (“Savior of the World”), set the record for the most expensive painting ever sold, fetching US$450 million.

Painted in oil on walnut in about 1500, it depicts Jesus offering a benediction with his right hand while holding a crystalline orb that appears to represent the cosmos in his left. The painting had suffered from neglect and poor restorations and was long assumed to be the work of one of Leonardo’s students, selling as recently as 2005 as part of the estate of a Baton Rouge businessman for less than $10,000. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

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ivalrous motivations. Leonardo’s life overlapped those of two other Renaissance giants – Michelangelo and Raphael – but it was Michelangelo who stoked an intense rivalry. The contrast between the two men could hardly have been sharper.

Leonardo was elegant and evinced little interest in matters religious, while Michelangelo was deeply pious yet neglectful of his appearance and hygiene. Michelangelo created some of the greatest paintings in history, including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and many considered his “David” the greatest sculpture ever produced, a triumph he lorded over his older rival.

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Vitruvian Man, 1490, pen and ink with wash over metalpoint on paper.

Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice. Image source: Wikipedia: Featured pictures.

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ne of a kind, admired then and now. Just a halfcentury after Leonardo’s death, the biographer Vasari beautifully summed up his enduring significance: “In the normal course of events many men and women are born with remarkable talents; but occasionally, in a way that transcends nature, a single person is marvelously endowed by heaven with beauty, grace, and talent in such abundance that he leaves other men far behind, all his actions seem inspired, and indeed everything he does clearly comes from God rather than from human skill.” Five hundred years after Leonardo’s death, these words still ring true.

Originally published on The Conversation. Richard Gunderman is Chancellor’s Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, Philanthropy, and Medical Humanities and Health Studies at Indiana University.

ARTS & CULTURE

LONDON CALLING

Attributed to Francesco Melzi, A portrait of Leonardo in profile, c.1515-18. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019. This is the only reliable surviving portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). It was most probably executed towards the end of his life by his pupil Francesco Melzi, perhaps with enlivening strokes by Leonardo himself in the lower part of the hair.

Leonardo da Vinci, A study of a woman's hands, c.1490. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.

THE QUEEN’S SUMPTUOUS LEONARDO DA VINCI DRAWINGS GO ON SHOW THIS MAY

LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING

ueen Elizabeth owns an overwhelmingly comprehensive collection of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, arguably the best collection in the world, a collection normally kept away from public view at Windsor Castle. This month the drawing are set to have their biggest showing in over 65 years in a landmark exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of his death: Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing.

Leonardo used his drawings to devise new compositions, to fix fleeting impressions, to test his understanding, to force himself to look in minute detail, and to explore every possible variant of a scenario.

Drawing served as Leonardo’s laboratory, allowing him to work out his ideas on paper and search for the universal laws that he believed underpinned all of creation. It is primarily through his drawings and notes that we can begin to understand the man and his achievements.

Around 550 of Leonardo’s drawings have been kept together as a group 22

since his death, and have been in the Royal Collection since the seventeenth century. Unlike his paintings which have been restored, these drawings are pristine and entirely by Leonardo, not assistants. Many of the drawings are intertwined with his notes. Acquired during the reign of Charles II, they provide an unparalleled insight into the workings of Leonardo’s mind and reflect the full range of his passions and interests, including painting, sculpture, architecture, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany. The exhibition presents more than 200 of the Renaissance master’s greatest drawings in the Royal Collection.

The exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing will include examples of all the drawing materials employed by the artist, including pen and ink, red and black chalks, watercolour and metalpoint. They will also present new information about Leonardo’s working practices and creative process, gathered through scientific research using a range of non-invasive techniques, including ultraviolet imaging, infrared

LONDON CALLING

Leonardo da Vinci, A design for an equestrian monument, c.1485-8. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.

Leonardo da Vinci, A standing male nude, c.1504-6. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.

Leonardo da Vinci, A man tricked by Gypsies, c.1493. Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.

reflectography and X-ray fluorescence. The findings have been brought together in a groundbreaking new book, Leonardo da Vinci: A Closer Look, published by Royal Collection Trust in February this year.

All the drawings by Leonardo in the Royal Collection were bound into a single album by the sculptor Pompeo Leoni in Milan around 1590 and entered the Collection during the reign of Charles II. What appear to be two completely blank sheets of paper from this album will be on public display for the first time at The Queen‘s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

Examination in ultraviolet light has revealed these sheets to be Studies of hands for the Adoration of the Magi, c.1481 and among Leonardo’s most beautiful drawings.

Leonardo executed the studies of hands in metalpoint, which involves drawing with a metal stylus on prepared paper. One of the sheets was examined at the UK’s national synchrotron, the Diamond Light Source at Harwell, Oxfordshire, using high-energy X-ray fluorescence to map the

distribution of chemical elements on the paper. It was discovered that the drawings had become invisible to the naked eye because of the high copper content in the stylus that Leonardo used – the metallic copper had reacted over time to a become a transparent copper salt. By contrast, A design for an equestrian monument, c.1485–8, which is drawn with a silver stylus, is still fully visible.

Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings, Royal Collection Trust, said, ‘The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci are a national treasure, both incredibly beautiful and the main source of our knowledge of the artist. We hope that as many people as possible will take this unique opportunity to see these extraordinary works, which allow us to enter one of the greatest minds in history, and to understand the man and his achievements.’

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace from 24 May – 13 October 2019, www.rct.uk/leonardo500 23

PARIS CALLING

Louvre Blockbuster This year's 500-year anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci in France is of particular importance for the Louvre. The museum boasts the largest collection of da Vinci’s paintings in the world, as well as 22 drawings. To brace for unprecedented demand the museum has introduced timed tickets. Catch da Vinci if you can. he museum is seizing the opportunity in this year of commemorations to gather as many of the artist’s paintings as possible around their own five core masterpieces: The Virgin of the Rocks, La Belle Ferronnière, Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Anne. The objective is to place them alongside a wide array of drawings as well as a small but significant series of paintings and sculptures from the master’s circle.

This unprecedented retrospective of da Vinci’s painting career will illustrate how he placed utmost importance on painting, and how his investigation of the world, which he referred to as “the science of painting,” was the instrument of his art, seeking nothing less than to bring life to his paintings.

The exhibition is the culmination of more than a decade‘s worth of work and will include new scientific studies of the Louvre’s 24

paintings, and the conservation treatment of three of them, allowing for better understanding of da Vinci’s artistic practice and technique. The exhibition will paint the portrait of a man and an artist of extraordinary freedom.

Anticipating huge demand, the museum is implementing a timed-ticketing policy to manage flow and prevent queuing.

Reservations will be available online and obligatory for all visitors – bookings open this June.

Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre, Paris from 24 October - 24 February 24, 2020. Opening hours: daily except Tuesdays from 9 am to 6 pm and until 9:45 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Admission: €17 (collections+exhibitions). Time slot booking compulsory. The reservation service will be open as of June 18 at www.ticketlouvre.fr

Leonardo da Vinci, La Belle Ferronnière (detail). Oil on wood (walnut).

Musée du Louvre, Department of Paintings. © Musée du Louvre, dist.

RMN – Grand Palais / Michel Urtado

CULTURE OF FASHION

Gallery View, Part 2 Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

Gallery View, Part 2 Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

Gallery View, Camp (v.)

Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

CAMP: NOTES ON FASHION

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Gallery View, Dandyism in the Age of Mass Culture ▶ Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

What is Camp? Through more than 250 objects dating from the 17th century to the present, The Met’s Costume Institute’s landmark spring 2019 exhibition explores the origins of camp’s exuberant aesthetic. Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp’” provides the framework for the exhibition, which examines how the elements of irony, humour, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration are expressed in fashion. Photography courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Gallery View, Accessories Case ▶ Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

CULTURE OF FASHION

◀ Ensemble, Jun Takahashi (Japanese, born 1969) for Undercover (Japanese, founded 1990), fall/winter 2017–18; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2017 (2017.399a–d).

Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2019

Gallery View, Sontagian Camp Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

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Gallery View, Being-as-Playing-a-Role Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, BFA.com/Zach Hilty

Susan Sontag, Peter Hujar (American, Trenton, New Jersey 1934-1987 New York), 1975; Purchase, Alfred Stieglitz Society Gifts, 2006 (2006.183). Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by Peter Hujar © 1987 The Peter Hujar Archive LLC; Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

amp’s disruptive nature and subversion of modern aesthetic values has often been trivialized, but this exhibition reveals its profound influence on both high art and popular culture,” said Max Hollein, Director of The Met. “By tracing its evolution and highlighting its defining elements, the show embodies the ironic sensibilities of this audacious style, challenges conventional understandings of beauty and taste, and establishes the critical role this important genre has played in the history of art and fashion.”

Camp was chosen as the theme thanks to the rising trend for deliberately exaggerated and theatrical fashion. The exhibition opened following the Met Gala - which lands annually on the first Monday in May. The event is The Costume Institute’s main source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and capital improvements, and this year was co-chaired by Anna Wintour, Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Serena Williams.

“Fashion is the most overt and enduring conduit of the camp aesthetic,” said Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute. “Effectively illustrating Sontag’s ‘Notes on “Camp,”‘ the exhibition advances creative and critical dialogue about the ongoing and ever-evolving impact of camp on fashion.” Camp, Sontag writes, is all about artifice, exaggeration, and superficial style over content, and yet it’s “dead serious.”

he exhibition features approximately 250 objects, including womenswear and menswear, as well as sculptures, paintings, and drawings dating from the 17th century to the present.

The line-up of designers is endless and includes Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Salvatore Ferragamo, John Galliano (for Maison Margiela, House of Dior, and John Galliano), Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Christian Lacroix; Karl Lagerfeld (for House of Chanel and Chloé), Gianni Dress, Jeremy Scott (American, born Versace and Vivienne Westwood.

1975) for House of The show’s opening section positions Versailles as a “camp Eden” Moschino (Italian, founded 1983), and address the concept of se camper – “to posture boldly” – in the spring/summer 2017; royal courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV. It then focuses on the figure Courtesy of Moschino. of the dandy as a “camp ideal” and traces camp’s origins to the queer Image courtesy of The Metropolitan subcultures of Europe and America in the late 19th and early 20th Museum of Art, Photo centuries. In her essay, Sontag defined camp as an aesthetic and © Johnny Dufort, 2019 outlined its primary characteristics. The second section of the exhibition is devoted to how these elements – which include irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration – are expressed in fashion.

‘CAMP: Notes on Fashion’ is on view at The Met Fifth Avenue, New York until September 8, 2019.

The exhibition is made possible by Gucci, with additional support provided by Condé Nast.

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BEACH

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BEACH PROOF When the beach is calling, answer with major style hits from the Accessorize holiday shop. Trending bikinis and swimsuits feature cut-outs, halter necks and floral prints.

For sandals think glamorous gold and luxe suede sliders. Between the beach and the bar, layer colourful beach dresses, kaftans and breezy tops - paired with a straw bag for an on-trend bold boho vibe.

BEACH CLOTHING

Counting down to your next adventure? Bring beach clothing from Accessorize along for the ride. Among chic cover-ups, discover breezy cotton beach dresses and sand-sweeping maxis as well as kaftans and sarongs with amazing tropical prints. Flowing wideleg trousers look great with just a bikini top, while shorts will see you from sea to sightseeing.

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BEACH BAGS

Bring a beach bag from Accessorize along on your next sun-filled adventure. String shoppers and extralarge totes will carry your towel, sun cream and holiday read along to the beach. Vibrant cross-body bags in on-trend straw are perfect for exploring the nearby markets. Nautical stripes belong by the sea and colour-pop embroideries guarantee to brighten things up.

BEACH JEWELLERY

Embrace the mood of a far-flung getaway with this summer’s edit of beach jewellery - bolder, brighter and bigger on impact. Necklaces take a tropical turn with colourful pendants and XL beads, while stretchy charm bracelets and anklets are the mark of a free spirit. Layer them with ready-curated sets for a sense of bohemian glamour.

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BEACH

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1. Make a bold statement this summer with the Ciao Bella clutch bag - in natural wicker weave and appliqué slogan. / Squeeze a fresh pop of colour into your outfits with the Dolce Vita neckerchief.

2. Make casual outfits feel seriously current with the Mila circle straw bag, complete with wooden ring handles. / Look chic with the Macrame swimsuit.

Finished with tassels at the neckline, it has removable padded cups for a supportive fit and is held together by stylish cross-straps at the back. / Perfect for a pool party, the Jaki kimono is cut to a maxi length in beautiful lace.

3. The Amalfi bikini top’s smocked design has a paradise floral print and bandeau shape, complete with detachable straps for a versatile look. Matching bottoms available. / Bask in vintage floral prints with a cross-strap swimsuit. This flattering design has a V-neck and adjustable shoulder straps.

4. Striped with a mix of lace and net, this sand-sweeping maxi dress has wow-factor lacing up each side. / Show off a little sun-kissed skin in this ladder-side swimsuit. Cut with a low-sweeping back and plunge neckline, this daring style laces down each side.

5. Designed with pretty cut-outs in pure cotton, this off shoulder schiffli dress will see you from beach to bar in effortless style. It features a pretty fringed hem and side pockets.

6. Take your style to the tropics with Luisa cockatoo earrings embellished with beads, gems and a touch of raffia. /

Wrapping around the wrist, this goldtone leaf cuff bracelet is intricately cut and has textured veins. / Whatever the destination, the Dani bandeau bikini top guarantees a stylish beach look. Created with a ribbed texture and double knots, this flattering choice has removable padding and detachable halter straps.

Matching bottoms available.

7. Get zesty with this lemon and orange moulded bikini top and bikini briefs! / This pure cotton broderie shirt with delicate cutwork and a scalloped hem is perfect for days spent by the beach. / The Amalfi cross-body bag’s lemon design is adorned with beading and braiding and edged with jute and raffia trims in a nod to the craftwork trend. / Get in that summer state of mind with these Ciao Bella sliders. Their seagrass soles are embroidered with lemons and they feature stripy straps with knot details.

8. BEACH HATS. Take shade from the rays with holiday-ready beach hats. Straw fedoras bring a boho sense of ease to days on the sands and wide-brim floppy hats have a Riviera-chic feel that's perfect for sun lounging and al fresco lunching.

9. Tread somewhere exciting in sandals and flip flops from the Accessorize holiday shop. This summer's must-haves come in luxe suede and leather as well as all-out glamorous gold and silver metallics. Jewel embellishments are perfect for a pool-party setting, while sliders have that effortless feel that leans towards lazy beach days. / Discover a vast range of sunnies, in all shapes and styles to keep you looking fresh all day!

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FASHION

Spring street style Update your wardrobe with some fresh pieces this spring from M&S and ALDO to make your style pop.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATTHEW B S PITERI. FASHION STYLING JEANDOR FARRUGIA. HAIR NEVILLE ROMAN ZAMMIT. MAKEUP AMANDA GREAVES. MODEL LENNY A KAISHEVA (MODELS M).

CONTRAST STITCHING WHITE SHIRT AND FORMAL BROWN BERMUDA SHORTS FROM M&S. BLACK LEATHER SNAKESKIN MULES FROM ALDO. NECKLACE STYLIST’S OWN. 30

FASHION

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FASHION

WHITE DENIM SKINNY JEANS FROM M&S WILL PAIR WELL WITH A VARIETY OF YOUR WARDROBE BASICS. WHITE SQUARE SUNGLASSES FROM ALDO. 32

FASHION AVIATOR CLEAR LENS GLASSES AND NEON HANDBAG WITH CHUNKY CHAIN FROM ALDO.

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FASHION

WHITE DENIM STRAIGHT TROUSERS FROM M&S. 34

Karen Millen, Old Theatre Street Valletta

KAREN MILLEN X ROYAL ASCOT Our favourite excuse to get dressed up, wedding season is just around the corner. Our lastest collection features dresses, jumpsuits and cover-ups all designed and finessed at our in-house atelier.

PROMOTION

SUPERMODEL-WORTHY SWIMWEAR Get noticed this summer in Marks&Spencer’s new swimwear collection, artistically inspired by supermodel Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley. The juxtaposition of stylised Asian-inspired florals against graphic spots makes this collection feel modern.

osie’s new swimwear collection features vintage-inspired prints, bespoke hardware and contemporary silhouettes. From large-scale florals to more delicate patterns, print is a key feature of the range, but minimalists are also catered for with elegant, clean-lined black swimwear brought to life with considered details.

If you want to steal the spotlight, this collection also introduces new shapes, such as the high-cut Miami bikini bottoms and the strappy lace-up back swimsuit.

But don’t just stop at swimsuits and bikinis. Boost your confidence with our stunning beach cover-ups with their draped fit giving you that finished elegant look.

Thanks to clever in-built Chlorine Resist Technology and UV protection, you can trust every piece in the collection to go the distance, holiday after holiday.

Discover the latest swimwear collection at M&S The Strand, Sliema and Palace Square, Valletta.

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The supply of fresh water to the newly built city of Valletta in the late 1500s was a growing problem.

How could a city flourish without the most essential resource? In April 1615 the Wignacourt aqueduct project was inaugurated, ensuring a constant supply of freshwater to the city. This year Express Trailers have chosen this historic aqueduct to feature in its latest advertising campaign. The new visuals f eature an unmistakable orange trailer driving down Notabile Road in Mrieħel next to the aqueduct.

Franco Azzopardi explains the concept.

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hanks to the aqueduct, Valletta and its growing population could thrive. In an analogous way, keeping this idea of service and growth in mind, through the services that Express Trailers has been offering since the post-war years, our business clients and customers could keep growing and thriving. This was the basis for the idea behind our chosen visuals for this year,” explains Franco Azzopardi, Chairman and CEO of Express Trailers.

“When we started brainstorming about the imagery of the aqueduct and how this could translate the messages that we wanted to communicate, we started seeing a lot of parallel ideas. The first parallel was the aqueduct as an innovation. It is our culture at Express Trailers to be innovative, to think outside the box, to be inventive of processes that are implementable. The aqueduct is also a structure, engineered to deliver water. Our company too is engineered to deliver goods and commodities. Just as the aqueduct delivered the most important and essential element needed for Valletta to grow and thrive, Express Trailers is engineered to deliver the many essential things we need in our daily life.”

“In the aqueduct we see a strong symbol for all that is representative of our identity as an established logistics operator.

The Express Group’s formal operations started in the late 1940’s, and therefore, there’s a strong historical element in our story too.

The company has built a legacy based on a set of qualities which are encapsulated in three main values - Excellence, Experience and Expertise. The aqueduct was designed by people with expertise, who passed this expertise to others, and gave the country a structure which today is still regarded as an engineering feat and an example of pure excellence.”

This latest campaign was also a thorough exercise in reinterpreting the way Express Trailers is perceived by those outside of the company. A lot of attention is being given to how people look at Express Trailers and the values they see in the company that make them want to work with it.

“The values we are trying to communicate in these new visuals reflect the image that our customers have of us as a prestigious company with a long history, and that our years of experience make us a leader in our sector,” adds Franco.

This campaign also saw Express Trailers collaborating with photographer Rene Rossignaud again. Rossignaud had previously produced the photography for a new fleet of trucks and trailers captured against Mdina as a backdrop.

“THE VALUES WE ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE IN THESE NEW VISUALS REFLECT THE IMAGE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE OF US AS A PRESTIGIOUS COMPANY WITH A LONG HISTORY, AND THAT OUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MAKE US A LEADER IN OUR SECTOR”

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eyond its history and legacy, Franco singles out technology as Express Trailers’ current focus and explains that the company is investing in this aspect of the business to cater for predicted increased business. “Express Trailers has always respected its past and its roots, but remains faithful to a future of further growth through investment and the application of technologies for better management of its operations. We have been pioneering our own logistics and transport management system for the past 30 years and are implementing a new IT system, developed specifically for us, to optimize resources and time. This new software, the culmination of a three-year project, went live last month for our full load shipments.”

Franco’s conviction is that in 2019, Express Trailers should not only be about transport and logistics but also about the much wider aspect of innovation.

“We were looking at innovation when we developed ShipLowCost.com to address the emerging challenges of online shopping to Malta. We sought innovation when we decided to work with DataByte, who helped us introduce the concept of Managed Warehousing, and invested in the building of a cloudbased Warehouse Management System to be able to offer innovative third-party logistics solutions.”

“The very idea of #WeAreOrange was in itself, an innovation too – we blended our image with the values that best represent our company culture and we managed to make this our people’s motto.

What followed was a new way of communicating our company both within and beyond the building. It is our way of imprinting and forging our brand within the company among our people, and in the wider marketplace,” concluded Franco.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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HEALTH & FITNESS

THE C-WORD. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED. On Monday 18th March 2019 at 7.45 pm in an office at St James Zabbar cancer hit home when my partner of 25 years was informed that MRI scans, taken after 3 months of worsening back and leg pain, showed what the doctor believed to be lymphoma. The great revelation of this harrowing experience has been the absolute care and dedication that the nurses and helpers in the Haematology Department at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre have shown. I have developed a dark sense of humour working here, says one of the nurses, it helps to cope. Over the course of a few days I managed to record some of their stories and thoughts.

Photography by FIRST Magazine.

I have lived with the paranoia of getting cancer all my life. When I was ten one of my father’s sisters died from cancer. She was 32. When I was 12 a second of my father’s sisters died from cancer. I remember her very well. I used to visit every day after school, spending hours in her kitchen ‘helping’ make ice cream and cakes – I was allowed to taste everything and crack eggs. Several years later two more of my aunts would succumb to the same disease.

The thought that ‘I might get cancer’ has lead me to always try to eat healthily – from blueberries to brussel sprouts, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds and broccoli... an endless array of anti-cancer superfoods. In my job I have worked on countless cancer preventative articles and features hoping that even one reader might be encouraged to get tested or feel encouraged by some new research.

I now think that I have done this to ‘ward-off ’ the c-word. The healthy foods, the research and the countless articles all faded when the diagnosis was given, and surprisingly I didn’t even want to Google things.

The doctors, the treatments, the whole mechanics of the ‘system’ has been eye-opening. But the greatest and most personal revelation about the whole experience has been learning about who makes a difference on a day by day, hour by hour basis – the nurse, the carer and the helper who smiles every time they see you, who asks if they can get you a cup of tea and who asks how your day was. Their dedication and giving of themselves is incredible. These are their stories in their own words.

Nurse 1. Male. 29

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hen I was young I always wanted to work in healthcare, and started off wanting to be a surgeon but soon realised that that wasn’t for me. With my first nursing placement at St Vincent de Paul, it was the first time in my life (when I was 20) that I saw an 80 year old geriatric patient completely naked in his own faeces and it was up to me to clean and take care of things. I thought that if I could stomach this, all well and good – it’s at that point in time that you realise whether the job is for you or not. Whichever ward you end up in your entire professional life will mostly revolve around you caring for other people.

From a professional point of view when I came to oncology you already have the idea that you’re going to deal with people at their worst and you’re going to do all you can to get them to their best. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn’t. The thing is how you’re going to cope in both situations. In general, in this particular ward, patients do tend to spend quite a long amount of time and they will already be under a lot of stress because of the condition itself, the diagnosis, the treatments and side effects – they are always there and you always have to be ready – it’s not just about thinking about what antibiotics to start or what to discuss with the doctors and the whole team – sometimes it’s just about sitting down in a dark room helping someone not to feel alone. And I think that that is where the nursing part in everyone on this team comes out.

I don’t like to call them patients, I like to call them ‘persons having treatment’. A big part of our job has nothing to do with medicine but with human contact. It’s not the first time I’ve passed by a room and the person wouldn’t be at their best and there would be a colleague of mine comforting them and talking to them – that’s a moment where no antibiotic and no antifungal can help. And that is a side of nursing which I think, more than being overlooked, is never really understood.

Since I’ve been here I think I’ve developed a dark sense of humour, it helps cope with things. It’s a way of dampening things because it’s a scary world out there and sometimes it can be an even scarier one in here. We’re literally fighting a condition that can never be beaten on a global scale, cancer after all is not a virus. The fact that you’re fighting something where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose gets to you, but you have to keep going the next day regardless – so you dampen it for the simple reason of just pulling through. Sometimes certain people will be affected in a way that it does take more than the best of you, or a little bit more than you want, or than you think you can afford to give, so we all have our ways of overcoming things. It’s not the first time that we’ve helped each other out when we’re down which is something glorious, because the fact that you know that you are not alone – that you are part of a team – and the fact that you also know that if you’re at a low point one of your colleagues is going to walk in and say ‘listen let’s talk – what’s up’ – that in itself is one of the reasons why I believe that in haematology we work so well as a team. ▶ 41

HEALTH & FITNESS

Nurse 3.

Female. 51

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“IT’S CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT AND MY PARTNER TELLS HER THAT HE FEELS FRAIL SOMETIMES. ‘DON’T WORRY’, SHE TELLS HIM, ‘I WILL GIVE YOU MY 100% TO TAKE CARE OF YOU’.”

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Nurse 2.

Female. 40s

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hen I used to work in the Day Care Unit (Medical) I would go home after my shift, have a cigarette on my terrace, start thinking about patients and start crying. We’re all human aren’t we?

How did I become a nurse?

I used to live in Canada and my parents lived in Southern California. My mum wanted me to apply for a green card and thought it would help if I studied something professional like nursing. At the same time my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer – they call it the silent killer because you don’t feel anything until it’s too late.

I could never understand why he would clench his teeth together till his lips almost bled. Only much later did I realise the pain he must have been in. But I couldn’t help him. I didn’t know how. That’s why I became a nurse. To give what I couldn’t give my father.

It’s close to midnight and my partner tells her that he feels frail sometimes. ‘Don’t worry’, she tells him, ‘I will give you my 100% to take care of you’.

n 1983, when I was 15, my mother passed away from cancer. Towards the end she wanted to die at home, so we took her home and took care of her. I remember holding a bowl to her mouth as she was vomiting. She used to tell me ‘you should become a nurse like them binti’, but I didn’t want to hear any of that, I wanted to study languages.

Then in 1997, two years after getting married, my life changed – I separated and was looking for a new job and a complete change. I applied to everything I could find in the newspapers but got no calls for interviews. A friend of mine suggested I go into healthcare. At the time there was a government scheme where they paid you minimum wage if you studied to become a nurse, on condition that you would then work with the government for three years. I applied, got accepted and wouldn’t turn back.

I love working in oncology and haematology. Sometimes it can be really difficult. A few weeks ago we lost seven patients in a span of three weeks and the whole team took it really badly. Thank God we have each other for support. We really try to do our best for each patient, it is really important that each patient has their dignity throughout their treatment until death. We focus on the patient’s dignity from the moment they come in, whether it’s death or their treatment. People don’t like to talk about it but even death is a phase in a person’s life and you have to honour that as well, as much as any other phase.

Sometimes you get a lot of ‘hassle’ coming towards you – at that point the only thing that gives me satisfaction is helping patients or their relatives in any way. When I first started we didn’t have beds for relatives. The first person I managed to get a bed for was a female patient we lost, her mother was with her every moment and we realised that she needed a good rest – she’d be away from her daughter for a maximum of two hours. The fact that I managed to make their lives a bit easier and lessen their burden – the fact that you go out of your way and can help others – that’s where i get my job satisfaction from.

Nurse 4.

Male. 29

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ver the course of the first cycle of treatment my partner lost about twenty kilos. As a side effect of his treatment his throat became very sore and it was painful for him to eat. Chilled high calorie supplement drinks were the solution – the nurses tracked his intake, happy to see him drinking and getting stronger.

‘Go slow, those drinks can be quite heavy – they’re concentrated and keep you filled. I’ve seen people take up to eight a day, but that’s been in extreme cases’, says his night nurse. I’ve seen it all in these past three years as a nurse. I had a placement at Mount Carmel Hospital as a student and was at St Vincent de Paul as a nurse for seven months, but I wanted a transfer and came to Mater Dei, where I worked in all departments while training up. When I was working in IDU (infectious diseases unit) one of my supervisors was from the haematology department and she asked me to work a shift there. In those six hours I knew that was where I wanted to work... I really try to do my best here.’

The difference from other departments and places is that the teamwork here is incredible, we have staff who know what teamwork is and you won’t find it anywhere else.

We’ve had patients coming from other departments who can see a difference and I’ve personally seen a difference even in the work ethic – you’re here because you want to work. In haematology everything is done how it should be done from A-Z and that’s how I like it – you know where

HEALTH & FITNESS you stand with your team mates and you also know that when you give a handover the work is going to get done because you trust the person you’re working with. I’ve worked in other places where you can’t trust the other person you’re working with and you end up doing everything yourself. This is the busiest ward I’ve ever worked in, but I like my work ... one of the hardest things to deal with really is that here, patients know what they have.

Nurse 5.

Female. 24

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ften, when I get back to the ward to visit my partner – actually to stay through the night – it’s not the first time that one of the nurses tells me that they were asking after me.

We really care about each patient, the first thing I do when I come in is ask how this patient is, or if that patient started eating.

When I started nursing as a student we’d have a lot of placements and I never imagined myself working here, the first time I checked my email and read that I was going to be in the haematology ward, as a student, I didn’t even know what the word meant. I always imagined myself working with children, or ICU or emergency – which today doesn’t even cross my mind. When I started working here as a student I loved the staff, I loved how close you get to the patients and the relatives – I mean you cannot find that in Mater Dei, it’s different because people don’t spend such a long time there. Also I had a very good mentor here, today she’s in the UK – she taught me everything.

As soon as I left haematology (I was still in second year) I told myself that I had to do everything I could to go to work in that particular ward. A year and a half ago when I started working I was a reliever at Mater Dei, and it was horrible. I used to be sent to different wards all the time, people treated you like you were nothing because they think ‘you’re just a reliever’, they don’t even call you by your name – because they don’t know you – but you’ve been put somewhere to help and they just call you ‘reliever’. After about a year at Mater Dei I couldn’t take it anymore and was getting depressed, and I applied to come to haematology, but it took a year and a half – and when I started working here I was overwhelmed because it’s what I always had wanted to do.

What’s different here is that we have a bond with our patients and their relatives, because the patients ‘live’ here and we ‘live’ here too. We work day, day, night (7-7) so I end up seeing the patients more than I see my own family.

Sometimes when l go home after a shift I’ll text my friends – my colleagues – that are working to check in on the patients. You go home and keep on thinking of them, it’s natural since we spend so much time together. The patients and even the relatives become so important to us... it’s not the first time I dream about my patients, I keep going over them in my mind – and it’s not just me, I can assure you that it’s the same for the whole team. In haematology in particular, we’re very friendly, we’re like a family, even in other oncology units it’s the same, but here there’s really good teamwork. Even when we’ve lost patients we’ve found support in each other. The thing is that we’ve laughed with patients, and we’ve cried with patients when they’ve left us, and we’ve cried with the families, and we’ve cried together after they’ve left, and we’ve cried when they’ve stopped coming to visit – you always keep thinking about them because you would have spent a lot of time with them, so you keep remembering them and their families. They become engrained in you. Even when I had been working here as a reliever – at the time there was a particular patient who was very weak and we still mention her – it’s been over a year since she passed away – even her husband is still in contact with us. Regardless of how much time passes you still remember the patients.

Nurse 6.

Female. 57

I

was always considered to be the ‘rebel’ of the family. My parents never wanted me to become a nurse because they thought that I would break my back and that it would be better if I became a doctor or a teacher. But for me, after having looked after my aunt at home who had cancer I always wanted to be a nurse. Also during that time, even though I had gotten my A-levels to become a doctor, the medical school was closed because there was the doctors’ strike.

Medical students had to go abroad to study, so it was a difficult time. Being one of eleven children meant that my parents couldn’t afford it. So I started my nursing here in Malta, but as a student, nursing then was completely different – we were more like domestics – we had to clean the floors, Karen Grech was just being built, we had to clean the partitions from the paintwork – and that was the student nurses job and I didn’t like it. So I applied abroad, I was accepted and being a ‘rebel’ I was the first one to leave home for good. At 18 I went abroad by myself and started studying at Kingston in London.

I spent ten years there, I met my husband, had three children and then decided to come back to Malta. I’ve been nursing for forty years now, so ‘that’s my story as a nurse.’

Some people ask me what the difference is between studying here or in the UK. I only see one major difference. In the UK nursing is based more on customer care orientation, it’s brainwashed into your mind that without the patient you do not have a job, so you have to look after your patient. I think that’s what I keep in mind most of the time, that the patient is vulnerable, he’s my ‘customer’ and I have to – I want to – be his ‘servant’ sort of – there’s nothing bad about being a ‘servant’ – some people may think that it’s a humble job because you’re serving somebody all the time, but for me it’s second nature. Even as children at home, when we played school, I always wanted to be the ‘purtinara’, I would give them milk, I would clean after them – that’s my character.

Before haematology I worked in casualty most of the time, I spent seventeen years in emergency when I came back to Malta. In the UK I worked in several hospitals, and I even ▶

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HEALTH & FITNESS

“I WASN’T FEELING ANYTHING, I WAS EMOTIONLESS. I STILL CARED FOR THEM... DEEPLY...

BUT IT WASN’T AFFECTING ME AT ALL.”

◀ worked at the Royal Marsden at some point, and leukemia always interested me. As soon as I came back to Malta my sister-in-law got leukemia, so I travelled and stayed with her at the Royal Marsden for nine months, reluctantly leaving my family behind. She survived and she’s still a survivor now.

Unfortunately I lost my husband during those nine months, he decided he couldn’t take it any longer, he had never told me about it, and he left me for somebody else. So... there’s still the satisfaction that I can see her alive... as it says in the Bible – the best gift that you can give is your life – and once you give your time to somebody you can never get it back, so you have definitely given them a part of your life. But I never regret anything about nursing, I love my job... I need a break every now and then, but I love my job, honestly.

Nurse 7.

Female. 30

I

always wanted to be a nurse because my mother was a nurse, and so were her sisters. This is something I always wanted to be since I was a child, and I focused all my studies on sciences to make sure that somehow I would arrive at nursing. In my time, ten years ago, they used to send us directly to elderly care, so I was at St Vincent de Paul, and as soon as I started I had already applied for a transfer because I wanted a different experience. It took a year and a half to get my transfer and I went up to Mater Dei and was at Neuro Medical, which was very interesting, but wasn’t that fulfilling.

At the time I remember my aunt was sick with cancer and I had gone to visit her at Boffa and I had really liked it. She was in palliative care – which is end of life care, and I had spoken to the nurses to see what the job involved. Then there was a call for this hospital, SAMOC, so I applied to come to the oncology centre and I got through. I didn’t know I was going to start at Boffa – I actually started oncology there. It was quite overwhelming at first, the building was old and cold. I was a reliever for the first few months in different wards, and at first I used to be in palliative. The patients were really sweet, end of life care is different – I used to love the patients and got attached very quickly and I still remember losing my first patient. I had gotten very close to her, she was in her 30s. I remember her asking ‘Will you be working tomorrow?.. because I’m going to make sure that I die tomorrow because

44

I’d like you to dress me up.’ I remember thinking that I’m sure she’s asking because she’s feeling really low. When I went in the next day she had died that morning and she had been allocated to me, and it hit me really hard. I was crying while dressing her, and one of my colleagues told me ‘not to get attached, because this will kill you every time you lose someone’. And it was killing me.

Then eventually we moved to SAMOC and sometimes we used to get night shifts were we would lose five patients, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. And I kept asking myself – ‘why aren’t I feeling anything anymore, this is strange’. I wasn’t feeling anything, I was emotionless. I still cared for them... deeply... but it wasn’t affecting me at all.

Then everything changed. My favourite aunt had been diagnosed with cancer and was admitted to the female ward upstairs. One night I came onto my shift in palliative and my mother told me not to worry because my aunt was quite settled. Then I went upstairs to check on her and arrived to hear her screaming. I found her grey and she kept screaming and crying, they gave her morphine but it had no effect.

Things kept getting worse and then I realised that her stomach was bloating, she was bleeding internally and no one had noticed. By then they had gotten the CPR trolley and it was really intense, I was crying with my other aunt, telling them ‘I can’t wake my aunt up’. Then we managed to get her back and settled and we took her to ITU. Since I was here on night shift and since she had settled the ITU nurses told me to send everyone home and that if anything happened they would call me. Five minutes after being back in palliative ITU called me to go down because my aunt had deteriorated severely. It was the worst forty five minutes of my life. I was holding her hand and watching the monitor get worse and worse. It was horrifying, and all those feelings related to death started coming back. And the next day when I had to return to work in palliative I started crying and realised I couldn’t take it anymore. Every time a patient would get bad my aunt would come to mind and I just couldn’t work there anymore. So that’s when I applied for a transfer to haematology, here at least it’s a bit more balanced, you get to see success stories and people going home.

Now I’ve been here eight months and it’s been a Godsend, the experience is completely different. Nursing has to be in you, especially in oncology, if it’s not in you, it’s not for you.

And if I had to go back, I don’t think I’d choose anywhere else but oncology, because it gives you so much experience and growth – even personally – for example, even when people take things for granted, working all the time and not enjoying life – I tell my own boyfriend don’t work all the time – work isn’t everything, money isn’t everything, what if one of us gets sick – where is the money going? And where will all the work go? I know because I see these things every day, working in oncology just gives you a different perspective in life. You see how precious life really is. You learn a lot from the patients.

Here you get your three or four patients and you have them on complete focus for the next twelve hours. You have a chance to speak to the patients, you learn about their life, you learn their names, you even learn their relatives’ names. To work in oncology is very challenging, but there is nothing more rewarding. It’s what nursing is meant to be – and here we’re managing to do it. I think that the care from us has a big part in recovery because we’re with the patient across the day and will notice any changes right away.

For the last few weeks I have had what I like to call regular ‘midnight dates’ with the helpers working in haematology. With his treatments my partner always needs ice to help him drink and they always oblige with a smile, they always ask how I am, and they always ask how he is doing today, if he’s eaten and how he’s reacting. These were complete strangers a few weeks ago.

Now they’ve become ever encouraging effervescent Energizer Bunnies that are always ready to help, even when you need ice at the most remote hours of the morning.

Names have been removed to respect the privacy of all the nurses in the ward since logistically it was impossible to interview the whole team.

HEALTH & FITNESS

BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR CANCER SURVIVORS Cancer patients that undergo surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, commonly suffer from physical fatigue, weakening of the body, psychological trauma and a subsequent decrease in quality of life. The usual lack of physical activity during treatment may exacerbate the levels of fatigue observed during and after cancer treatment. Patients may often not be motivated to exercise due to chronically feeling tired, low self-esteem and lack of encouragement from family and friends, and may mistakenly assume they need further rest, writes Richard Geres, MSc Nutritional Science.

Several studies examining the role of physical activity during and after cancer treatment have shown positive effects on decreasing fatigue, enhancing physical performance and improving quality of life. The majority of studies have looked at the effects of aerobic exercise on cancer patients, while fewer studies to date have examined the effects of resistance training. Many of the studies have been carried out on patients with breast cancer, while fewer studies have examined the effects of exercise, particularly resistance training, on patients with other types of cancer, such as colon or prostate cancer. However, the results reported have been very promising.

r e

esistance training is highly effective in increasing strength and lean muscle tissue, both in athletes as well as in untrained, older adults.

Therefore, one may assume that resistance training may also offer considerable benefits to cancer patients that suffer from fatigue as well as loss of strength, muscle mass and bone mineral density, even if the intensity (difficulty of workout), volume (length of workout) and frequency of training (number of sessions per week) may be very low in the beginning. xercise guidelines for cancer patients. The American Cancer Society recommends that cancer survivors commit to these actions: take part in regular physical activity; avoid inactivity and return to normal daily activities as soon as possible after diagnosis; aim to exercise at least 150 minutes per week; and include strength training exercises at least 2 days per week.

In Australia, the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) has gone so far as to issue a formal guideline on exercise for cancer survivors. Its recommendations are: exercise should be embedded as part of standard practice in cancer care and viewed as an adjunct therapy that helps counteract the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment; all members of the multidisciplinary cancer team should promote physical activity and help their patients adhere to exercise guidelines; and best practice cancer care should

include referral to an accredited exercise physiologist and/or physical therapist with experience in cancer care.

e c

xercise has numerous medicinal and health-promoting properties. It is not surprising that the chairwoman of the COSA committee, Dr. Prue Cormie, has compared the benefits of exercise to medication: “If we could turn the benefits of exercise into a pill it would be demanded by patients, prescribed by every cancer specialist and subsidised by government.

It would be seen as a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.”

ancer recurrence and long-term survival. Exercise may not only impact the recovery from treatment, but may also influence the rate of cancer recurrence and long-term survival. Over 20 studies of people with breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian cancer have suggested that physically active cancer survivors have a lower risk of cancer recurrence and improved survival compared to those who are inactive. Further benefits of regular exercise include reductions in anxiety, depression and self-esteem as well as increased happiness in cancer survivors.

Due to the repercussions of their treatment, cancer patients may need to commence their exercise programme at a very moderate level of intensity.

Although the recommendations are to exercise 30min daily, patients may start with short bursts of 6-10min at a time and gradually increase their exercise duration as their stamina increases. Some type of resistance training (strength training) should be included in the routine to exercise muscles that may have weakened during therapy. To go about this in the right way, patients are advised to seek the advice of an experienced exercise professional or physical therapist. Exercise recommendations may vary from patient to patient, depending on their physical condition, fitness and degree of recovery. In the beginning, bodyweight exercises or resistance bands can provide more than adequate resistance, meaning that sophisticated gym equipment is not required. Appropriate aerobic exercises for the initial stages of an exercise programme may include walking, swimming and indoor cycling on a stationery bike.

“IF WE COULD TURN THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE INTO A PILL IT WOULD BE DEMANDED BY PATIENTS, PRESCRIBED BY EVERY CANCER SPECIALIST AND SUBSIDISED BY GOVERNMENT. IT WOULD BE SEEN AS A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN CANCER TREATMENT.” 46

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WHY SHOULD YOU PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE? We understand that health insurance isn’t cheap, especially when you’re already paying a premium on other insurance services such as home or motor and whatnot. However, the unfortunate reality is that you can never truly foresee what medical treatment you might require, and going without health insurance can end up costing you even more! Whether it’s for yourself or your loved ones, we encourage you to keep reading to learn more about why you should consider paying for health insurance. It might just be worth the cost in the long run!

1. PRIVACY. Let’s face it, regardless of how excellent the medical services are in Malta, being admitted to a ward isn’t exactly the most positive experience one can have. Having said that, we can empathise why some individuals may prefer to have their own private room as opposed to being cooped up with several other patients. By using a private hospital with your health insurance policy, you will find that having your own room there is actually the norm, and you can bypass this inconvenience entirely.

2. CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALIST. We understand that on most medically-related incidents, you would prefer to consult with your own trusted specialist. We promise to provide you with that sort of flexibility to better suit your own personal needs.

3. INVESTMENT OUTWEIGHS EXPENSE. Even though health insurance is often seen as an extra expense, it will still be your safeguard under the circumstances that you do find yourself needing it. Buying health insurance can be a bit of a gamble, but it is one that you might end up losing if you get injured or seriously ill.

4. FINANCIAL PROTECTION AND PEACE OF MIND. Although this has been said time and time again, it is still undoubtedly true that the greatest wealth is your health. Even though the periodic cost of health insurance may seem high, the cost of injury or illness can potentially be even higher. Health insurance will give you that peace of mind which you desire in knowing that should you come to need it, we will be there to help you take action.

5. NO WAITING LIST. Despite the fact that public health care in Malta is both very effective and free of charge, it can still come with some long waiting times, especially if your case is not considered to be an urgent matter. By using private healthcare through health insurance, you can avoid these waiting times without having to expend your own savings.

If we grabbed your attention so far, then we encourage you to continue reading. We promise to make it worthwhile! You may find that MAPFRE Middlesea’s health insurance policies have even more in store than one might expect.

Our New and Improved Benefits As of 2019, MAPFRE Middlesea has introduced a number of new and improved benefits for health insurance. At a reasonable additional premium, clients will be able to enjoy several benefits such as: • Our Routine and Preventive Care Cover which, up to a certain limit, will allow clients to undergo routine tests as well as monitor chronic conditions. After all, if you want to avoid having to deal with any unwanted turn-ups, prevention is simply better than cure.

• A Dental Benefit which applies to all individuals with Inpatient and Outpatient policies, covering a range of dental treatments such as scaling, polishing, x-rays, etc.

• The Waiver of Standard Exclusions Extension. In other words, clients are now given the option to customise their health insurance policy by waiving the standard policy exclusions for Vaccinations, Allergies and Clinic fees at an additional premium.

That’s not all though. Amongst a list of several benefits, other improvements also include: • An increase in the limits of our existing table of benefits, • Worldwide cover varying in line with the scheme chosen, and • An extension of our emergency telephone assistance for all levels of cover.

The bottom line is, investing in your health can seriously pay off in the long run.

At times, you might find yourself hesitant to see a doctor even when it is medically necessary because you don’t want to pay for the costs out of your own pocket. In light of this, health insurance can help you bypass these mishaps by safeguarding your medical expenses for you.

Still interested in learning more about our health insurance benefits?

Check out our website on www.middlesea.com/insurance-mt/ individuals/health-insurance/ to find out what else is in store for you.

HERITAGE

The last official building built by the Order, the Library was completed in 1796, two years before the Order was expelled from Malta by Napoleon.

Upper corridor linking the adjacent Grand Masters Palace.

Since 1891 Sicilian sculptor Giuseppe Valenti's statue of Queen Victoria has been guarding the entrance to the Library.

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HERITAGE

THE POLISH CONNECTION

MALTA’S NATIONAL LIBRARY

The National Library is a unique architectural treasure, built in an early Neoclassical style which complements Valetta's very Baroque architecture. Founded as a public library during the last years of the Order of St. John the building was designed by Polish-born architect Stefano Ittar and completed by his son Sebastiano after his father's death. It was the last important building to be constructed by the Knights, and purpose built as a library.

Photographs courtesy of The National Library. n 1555 the idea of a public library in Malta was conceived by Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, who issued a decree that all books in the legacy of deceased knights were to pass directly to the Order's Common Treasury. By 1649 the nucleus of a library, housed in a room over the oratory of the Conventual Church of St. John, was formed.

It was not until 1776, however, that the formal foundation of a Bibliotheca Publica was decreed at the Chapter General of the Order convened by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan. By this time an already highly significant collection of books was housed in a building known as Il Forfantone, in Republic Street corner with St. Lucia Street. The main collections of books were those belonging to Fra’ Louis Guérin de Tencin, Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order who had died in 1766, and of Cardinal Joaquin Portocarrero, ▶ 51

HERITAGE

1. The Reading Hall.

Photo credit: Duncan Cauchi.

2. One of the many treasures restored by the National Library, this early 17th-century book

by Camillo Agrippa is a manual on the science of fencing.

3. This is a copy of the rare 1566 edition of the celebrated work by Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566). The work formed part of the collection pertaining to the founder of the Bibliotheca of Malta, the knight Bailli JeanLouis de Tencin. In the catalogue that de Tencin prepared of his books, it is listed in the category entitled ‘Comédies et Romans’.

4. Among visits to the National Library of Malta by distinguished guests recorded in the Visitors’ Book over a span of more than 175 years is that of the British playwright Sir George Bernard Shaw, author of 'Pygmalion' which was later adapted for the screen as 'My Fair Lady'. Shaw, who visited the Library on 7th March 1931, signed the Visitors’ Book exclaiming that he felt “out of breath among so many treasures” 5. “Piae Postulatio Voluntatis” – The papal bull of Pope Paschal II. Benevento, 15 February 1113. One of the most treasured items conserved in the Archives of the Order of Malta at the National Library, this 900-year old parchment documents the official recognition by the Holy See of the Hospital of St John (later to become the Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta). By virtue of this privilege, Pope Paschal II grants the Hospital ecclesiastical recognition and confers on it papal protection in perpetuity, while confirming its properties in Europe and Asia.

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◀ which de Tencin himself had purchased on the Cardinal’s death in 1760 – de Tencin had bequeathed an estimated 9700-volume collection of books.

For a time after de Tencin's death the Library was named Bibliotheca Tanseana in his honour, and today in many ways he is still considered to be the true founder of the Library.

To house the growing collection of books De Rohan decreed the building of new premises to the designs of Stefano Ittar, a Polish-born architect. Ittar was a descendant of the noble Italian house of Guidone de Hittar. His father had fled to Poland following a disagreement with the Grand Duke of Tuscany and also due to financial difficulties. While Ittar was still young his family moved to Rome where he eventually studied architecture under the 52

1 3 5 patronage of Cardinal Alessandro Albani. After a brief period in Spain, Ittar settled in Catania in 1765, when the city was passing through a reconstruction and embellishment phase following the devastating 1693 earthquake. There he met the wealthy and powerful Don Ignazio Paternò, Prince of Biscari who was in the process of building a fabulous Palazzo overlooking the harbour. Biscari became his patron for many years and Ittar eventually married Rosaria Battaglia, the daughter of Francesco Battaglia, the architect in charge of Palazzo Biscari. Ittar initially worked with his fatherin-law on several projects and in 1767 started working on his own and by 1776 was one of the most respected and influential architects and town planners living in Catania.▶

wienet tal-kotba u Il-kotba jinsabu g침all-bejg침 g침and l-Agenda bookshop u 침wienet tal-kotba

wienet tal-kotba u

T: 2144 1604 | E: info@horizons.com.mt | www.horizons.com.mt |

Horizons Malta

HERITAGE

6 ◀ Ittar's new library was a model of classical design, the facade is balanced and proportionate complete with columns, arches, windows and pediments. This last official building by the Order, reminiscent of a huge classical palace, was completed in 1796, five years after Ittar's death and two years before the Order was expelled from Malta by Napoleon.

It was only 16 years later, in 1812, under British rule, that the Library was officially inaugurated by Civil Commissioner Sir Hildebrand Oakes as the ‘Malta Public Library’.

In 1936 it was granted the title of Royal Malta Library by King George V and in 1937 the Archives of the Order of St. John were transferred from the Public Registry premises to the Library.

When the new Central Public Library was opened in Floriana in 1976, the Library in Valletta was officially designated as the National Library of Malta and became a research and reference Library housing various collections. Highlights of the extensive collection include the Archives of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta

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6. The laying of the foundation stone of the city was recorded in the Council Minutes on 28 March 1566.

7. (detail) The National Library of Malta has recently added this stunning ink and water colour view of the city of Valletta and the suburb of Floriana, c.1790 to its collection. This south-east view of the capital city from the Birgu side is disposed over three sheets joined together. The drawing shows the suburb of Floriana and the city of Valletta with its fortified walls and Fort St Elmo at the tip. The various landmarks of the city, among which the Grand Master's Palace, the Conventual Church of St John and the Dominican Priory, are listed in the legend extending along the bottom of the sheet. In the foreground is the harbour with vessels, some of which fly the flag of the Order of St John.

8. Book of Hours that belonged to the knight Fra’ JacquesLaure Le Tonnellier de Breteüil. de Breteüil (1723-1785) was received in the Langue of France as a page to Grand Master Pinto in 1736. In 1758 he was appointed Ambassador to the Holy See where he remained for almost twenty years. In 1777, Breteüil was sent to Paris as Ambassador of the Order. The Bailli de Breteüil was a cultured man and a great lover of the arts, as well as a collector of all kinds of artistic works. Manuscripts and printed works tooled with the owner’s name are found in the National Library of Malta.

9. ‘The Life of St Anthony the Abbot’ is among one of the beautifully illuminated manuscripts that forms part of the collection of fifteenth century codices housed in the National Library of Malta. The only other copy is to be found at the Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana in Florence.

JOURNAL DE MALTE. PROSPECTUS OF THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN MALTA IN 1798 IN FRENCH AND ITALIAN BY THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED FRENCH ADMINISTRATION. 54

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containing almost 7000 volumes covering 900 years of the varied and eventful history of the Hospitallers of St John from 1107 to 1798; illuminated manuscripts; rare items including the drawings of Giorgio Grognet and an early edition of Nostradamus dating back to 1566; curiosities including a document written on papyrus dating back to the 4th century BC and a scroll written in Hebrew from Deuteronomy; as well as an edition of the first local newspaper – Journal de Malte, published in 1798 in French and Italian by the newly established French administration.

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BOOKS

TEMPL

OF KNOWL Stiftsbibliothek Admont, Admont, Austria. © Massimo Listri / TASCHEN

56

LES Klosterbibliothek Metten, Metten, Germany. © Massimo Listri / TASCHEN

LEDGE Biblioteca do Convento de Mafra, Mafra, Portugal. © Massimo Listri / TASCHEN

BOOKS Have a look inside the World's Most Beautiful Libraries in a lush 560 page photography book by Italian photographer Massimo Listri, published by Taschen.

orn in 1953, Massimo Listri has spent decades crisscrossing the world, photographing incredible palaces, villas, and luxurious interiors, allowing access into often private spaces. He has published more than 70 books which visually capture well known interiors, including Palaces of Rome, Villas of Tuscany, Versailles and Swedish Interiors, and has exhibited his work throughout the world.

In this beautiful Taschen book, Massimo Listri travels to some of the oldest and finest libraries around the world. His work reveals their architectural, historical, and imaginative wonder. Through great wooden doors, up spiraling staircases, and along exquisite, shelf-lined corridors, he leads readers through outstanding private, public, educational, and monastic libraries, dating as far back as 766.

Between them, these medieval, classical, baroque, rococo, and 19thcentury institutions hold some of the most precious records of human thought, inscribed and printed in manuscripts, volumes, papyrus scrolls, and incunabula. In Listri’s poised images capture each library's most prized holdings and design details and also their unique atmosphere.

Featured libraries include the papal collections of the Vatican Apostolic Library, Trinity College Library, home to the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow, and the holdings of the Laurentian Library in Florence, the private library of the powerful House of Medici, designed by Michelangelo. With meticulous descriptions accompanying each featured library, readers learn not only of the libraries’ astonishing holdings - from which highlights are illustrated - but also of their often lively, turbulent, or controversial pasts. Like Altenburg Abbey in Austria, an outpost of imperial Catholicism repeatedly destroyed during the European wars of religion, or the Franciscan monastery in Lima, Peru, with its horde of archival Inquisition documents.

At once a bibliophile beauty pageant, an ode to knowledge, and an evocation of the particular magic of print The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries is above all a cultural-historical pilgrimage to the heart of the world's temples of knowledge. Across 560 pages of stunning images, Listri captures the magic and wonder of libraries, and just how powerful their atmospheres can be.

Massimo Listri. The World's Most Beautiful Libraries. Published by Taschen. Authors: Georg Ruppelt, Elisabeth Sladek. Hardcover, 29 x 39.5 cm, 560 pages. €150.

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INVESTMENT

INVESTING EU FUND OUR NATURAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRON European funds have helped Malta come a long way. They have been invested in major projects across various sectors: from infrastructure to health, business, education, security, and more. The Funding Programme for Malta 2014-2020 in particular has strengthened the productivity of enterprises, boosted research and innovation, enabled the shift towards a more low-carbon and environmentally-friendly society, fostered health and social development and increased education attainment – all in line with Malta’s contribution towards Europe 2020 targets for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

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NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS

rotection of the environment and cultural assets is particularly important for the Maltese islands, which possess a unique cultural landscape rich in cultural heritage varying from museums, fortifications, baroque architecture and various archaeological sites. Cultural heritage is an important niche market that contributes towards year round tourism on the islands.

Tourism is an important sector in the Maltese economy and way of life, and therefore needs to be actively nurtured.

Projects which preserve our natural, historical and cultural heritage work to improve a tourist's experience, maintain increasing tourist flows, and ultimately strengthen our competitiveness in the sector.

A key project in this area is one which was highly anticipated and appreciated by the public: MUZA, Malta’s new museum of art. The operation itself has entailed the use of Auberge d’Italie as the seat of the museum, transforming the main halls of the building into cutting edge, interactive museum galleries complemented by other museum ancillary facilities. The total EU funding allocation totals nearly €9 million.

The operation is a NationalCommunity Museum, the first of its kind. The museum is green-powered, generating its energy requirements through renewable sources. In fact, MUZA is based on a sustainable energy concept, offering a potential zero-carbon footprint and significant energy cost savings. The project is also contributing to Valletta’s regeneration and to its presence in the international cultural scene.

The upgrading of the Manoel Theatre, with an EU funding injection of around €1.2 million, is another such project. The theatre is the oldest working national theatre in the world, and the project provides an improved, high-quality experience to patrons.

Explaining the project, EU funds Parliamentary Secretary Aaron Farrugia said that EU funds are being utilised in order to invest in our culture with the aim of preserving Maltese identity, while also strengthening the local touristic EU funds are being invested in culture and the preservation of Maltese identity, says parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia.

INVESTMENT

DS IN D NMENT

product. “Different from past investments in cultural projects, this project is focused not only on cultural conservation, but also on the economic dimension and the need to move beyond the preservation of cultural assets and towards their effective use to generate economic activity and employment.”

Indeed, by offering a new tourism attraction in Malta’s capital through MUZA and by restoring Malta’s Manoel theatre, which is not only a cultural venue, but is also a historical attraction in its own right, the two projects are contributing to Government’s ambition of reducing tourist seasonality, whilst moving towards a more sustainable tourist sector. The museum contributes to the preservation of Malta’s cultural and historical heritage, with the use of green technologies for its day-to-day running promoting the concept of environmental and energy sustainability. On the other hand, the new ventilation system at the Manoel Theatre, coupled with other improvements, such as new seating and improved acoustics, make it possible to operate the theatre all year round, hence providing a more sustainable venue and pleasurable experience to locals and tourists alike.

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Similarly, EU funds have been invested in preserving and protecting the natural environment and, in particular, promoting resource efficiency. The security of water supply is a persistent challenge for the Maltese Islands, which also plays a key role in addressing climate change. Malta’s climate is typically semi-arid Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Malta is poorly endowed with freshwater resources which are totally dependent on precipitation as no inflow or outflow of water resources from or to other countries takes place; coupled with a high population density which puts significant

pressure on the Islands’ scarce water resources.

For this reason, a total of €87 million in EU funds was allocated for a particular project – ‘Towards a Net Zero Impact Water Utility – Ensuring Integrated Water Resource Management’ – for water production, wastewater collection and treatment and water reuse by the Water Services Corporation.

This major project includes a number of components, including the tunnel between Pembroke and ta’ Qali. This component aims to ensure a consistent supply of potable water, so that the Maltese Islands will be supplied with potable water having a chloride content of 250 mg/l or less, to maximise the blending potential and distribute a more homogenous water quality to the entire population. This project alone will greatly contribute to improved water supply and quality.

In fact, the parliamentary secretary said that Malta is serving as an example to other European countries for effective water management. “Malta is flourishing in this sector, and other countries are looking towards it as a benchmark for water security, improvement of quality, and sustainable management and efficiency of this resource. The Pembroke tunnel is part of a holistic plan to reach these targets, and part of a major EUfunded project for water. The success that our country has achieved in recent years, as well as our economic growth, has led to a higher demand for resources. With EU funds, we are addressing this demand and thereby building the infrastructure for the future in all areas,” he said.

Similarly, the EU-funded LIFE Integrated Project led by the Energy Water Agency is also focused on protecting this precious resource. The project, which is part of the LIFE programme – the EU’s primary funding instrument for environment and climate action – will be developing a model of water management in a coastal Mediterranean environment; a model which will also be discussed and shared with other Mediterranean islands. Therefore not only will this result in improved water management, but it will also strengthen regional cooperation.

The research will take place in nine catchments in Malta and two catchments in Gozo, and will lead to the development of Master Plans and Technical Guidelines for each catchment.

On this, the parliamentary secretary explained that the LIFE programme is an important EU tool to help Malta reach its environmental targets and mitigate the impact of climate change, while properly implementing European legislation such as the Water Framework Directive.

“Projects financed from the LIFE programme are contributing to the natural environment, biodiversity, circular economy, climate, and ultimately to quality of life, similar to projects such as LIFE Saving Buskett and LIFE Baħar for N2K.” Farrugia said that the European Commission will be allocating no less than €4.8 billion for the LIFE programme in the next seven years, and that he will be taking action to ensure that Malta benefits from this programme as much as possible.

“Projects financed from the LIFE programme are contributing to the natural environment, biodiversity, circular economy, climate, and ultimately to quality of life” says Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia.

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EP ELECTIONS “WE ARE THE FIRST GENERATION OF POLITICIANS WHO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY SINGLEUSE PLASTICS AND ALREADY WE ARE THE LAST GENERATION WHO CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.”

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EP ELECTIONS

PROUD MALTESE, PASSIONATE EUROPEAN Roberta Metsola is one of the most recognisable faces on the Islands, a fierce defender of Maltese values and a passionate European. Roberta flew the flag for Maltese women in politics, not only becoming one of Malta’s first-ever female MEPs, but following it up as the most-voted for PN candidate in 2014. As a MEP she won the prestigious MEP of the Year award twice and was named as one of the top ten Young Leaders of the World in 2017. Just this month she was revealed as the most effective Maltese MEP in the last five-years. Roberta is married to Ukko Metsola – a Finn – and together they have four young boys. How on earth did she end up a major player in the cut-throat world of Maltese politics? Roberta explains. Photographs by Rene Rossignaud

aturday mornings at the Metsolas are chaotic – and noisy. Children playing and arguing. Nanna preparing something for lunch. It’s a typical Maltese scene. “No day is typical” Roberta laughs, “our lives are spent moving between Malta, Gozo, Brussels and Strasbourg, generally under a ton of suitcases and bags of nappies – which has its challenges of course but my children are used to the life.”

“There is nothing like children to keep you grounded. My husband and I have tried hard to instil a sense of duty and service in our boys. They know that there are things that require some sacrifices and I hope that when they get older, they are able to look back with pride at what we have achieved.

Every week I spend three or four days in Malta and Gozo and three or four days in Brussels and Strasbourg. Our constituency is the entire country so I try to be in as many places as possible.

All politics is local and people deserve to see their representatives in the flesh not only on social media.”

After pouring over all the data over five-years Brussels-based website www.MEPRanking.eu has announced that Roberta Metsola is the most

effective Maltese MEP in this legislature.

Her reaction?

“I try not to pay any attention to rankings or surveys. It is always nice to have your work appreciated but all six of us MEPs work hard. In Brussels, we do not always agree of course, but we do cooperate with each other much more than most people realise. We are six in a Parliament of 751.

I am particularly proud of the new border security law we have just passed that I drafted and piloted through. It means that we will now see an additional 10,000 border guards and staff at our borders. Our guiding principle throughout has been fair with those in need, strong with those who are not and harsh with those who exploit the most vulnerable in our society.

This legislature has seen us end mobile-phone roaming charges across Europe, a step that has become engrained in our way of life. We also managed to ban most single-use plastics. We are the first generation of politicians who fully understand the damage caused by single-use plastics and already we are the last generation who can do anything about it.

I have also worked hard to reduce redtape when it comes to businesses in Malta and Gozo accessing EU funds. I

am pleased that my office in Malta has worked tirelessly without fanfare to help so many people.

As a representative of the people in Malta and Gozo, I also made it a point to always stand up for those values and principles that distinguish us so proudly as Maltese. Corruption is the anti-thesis of what it means to be Maltese and so I will always stand up against it. I can never be silent when our values are under threat, just as I will not stop fighting for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia.”

So it’s not exactly a case of gravy trains and business-class flights? “Definitely not!”, she smiles. “MEPs are entitled to fly business class, but I never do, there are better causes for the EU to use its funds on.

I stand for a particular brand of politics – the politics of the centre – of moderate, value-based decision-making. That is who I am and I have never tried to be anyone else. I am proud of my record and I am grateful for the support of people throughout the legislature – with their backing next week I hope to be able to continue to represent their best interests as their MEP.” Facebook: Roberta Metsola Twitter: @RobertaMetsola

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EP ELECTIONS

BELIEVING IN THE NEXT LEVEL At the peak of electoral EP election frenzy Miriam Dalli’s office in Żebbuġ remains calm, composed and welcoming – very much an extension of her.

Children’s toys piled in one corner. Electoral material spread in another.

Warm welcome is balanced with hard work. Miriam shares the countless amount of people and places this campaign has introduced her to.

hat has prompted Miriam to embark on a journey that she vouches will take Malta to ‘the next level’?

“I believe that this is what our country needs”. Miriam is not one to mince her words. Politico has described her as a “master of building progressive alliances”. The Maltese MEP explains that her vision for the Maltese islands is ambitious because she believes that Malta’s potential is yet to be further unravelled.

“We’ve come a very long way. More women, for example, are now joining the work force. Childcare services are being provided, so that both parents can plan their days, budget their lives and manage their families better. Unemployment is steadily becoming an uncommon occurrence. So too are long waiting lists in order for citizens to receive dignified care and health services. In addition”, says the woman who pushed through stiff emissions targets in the European Parliament, “people are now much more aware of the space they live in, the finite nature of our natural space and resources, and the importance of maintaining and passing on cleaner, greener spaces to our children and future generations”.

“The next level is self-explanatory in its

description. It ensures both continuity and improvement across many contexts within Maltese society”. For Miriam, it is not enough that more women are joining the work force. “The country needs to address the discrepancies in wages, so that all workers receive payment according to their abilities, not according to their gender”.

“It is not enough that unemployment has reached its lowest level in decades; wages need to ensure a dignified existence to all citizens who are part of the Maltese workforce.”

What about the environment? “Sustainability is key”, she replies, in her decisive manner. Miriam has been called an ‘eco-warrior’ by Politico. She spearheaded action that lead to the signing of a legal framework that will set a target of a reduction of 37.5% in CO2 emissions by passenger cars and vans by 2030. Not just in Malta, but across the European Union.

Miriam Dalli is definitely a name that will resonate strongly both locally and within the broader context of European politics. This woman cares about the future of the Maltese islands and she simultaneously possesses the strength, vision and practicality that are necessary in order to transform this sense of care into political strategy that will emanate tangible results.

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EP ELECTIONS

“I AM READY TO BE AN ENERGETIC VOICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND TO DEFEND MALTESE INTERESTS ON ALL LEGISLATIVE FILES THAT COULD HAVE A BEARING ON LOCAL SECTORS.”

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EP ELECTIONS

ROBERT MICALLEF. FROM EU NEGOTIATOR TO MEP CANDIDATE As a representative of the Council of the EU, Robert Micallef successfully led the negotiations with the European Parliament for a €44 billion European investment plan to stop migration flows from Africa. He is an Oxford trained economist who was employed by the European Commission to serve as a member of the EU Delegation that negotiated Malta’s entry into the EU. And in recent years, Robert Micallef was engaged by the Maltese Government as a negotiator for Malta’s Presidency of the EU. He has now accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to stand as a Labour candidate for the European Parliament and, having earned endorsements from influential personalities such as Oliver Friggieri and Alfred Sant, he is looking forward to facing the electorate on 25 May. Robert Micallef discusses his views on Europe and the EP elections.

hat does Europe mean to Robert? “Europe is a project for peace based on freedoms and the rule of law but it is still a work in progress. More effort is needed, not only to improve the single market which is the foundation of Europe but also to achieve greater interdependence, trust and understanding between the peoples of Europe. We travel freely, we trade with each other and we work in each other’s countries using different languages and appreciating each other’s literature, cinema and food. All this doesn’t come naturally and requires political will and an agreed legal framework.”

With such a European profile, why would someone opt to enter the political field? “There are now forces around Europe that want to reverse Europe’s achievements and are questioning the EU project. Populists and nationalists are gaining traction across different Member States. Malta is not averse to this trend and it is worrying that a major party, the Nationalist Opposition, appears to be doubting its European vocation with the way it speaks about ‘foreigners’. It seems to be positioning itself as an antagonist to the principle of free movement of people and labour which are at the heart of the European project.

This should not be taken lightly as it could carry the risk of discouraging foreign investment with possible serious economic implications for a small open economy like Malta. I am hoping to be able to use my European experience to contribute to a national debate about how Malta can gain more from Europe but also on how Malta can help shape a better Europe for the future. I am keen to represent the interests of all

Maltese and Gozitans in the European Parliament and ensure that our voice is heard well.”

What is he aiming to achieve in the European Parliament? “I am ready to be an energetic voice for our country and to defend Maltese interests on all legislative files that could have a bearing on local sectors.

I know the European Parliament well not only because I have worked as an advisor with the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the EP but also because I have negotiated with EP committees as a Council representative and have earned the respect of Committee Chairs and Rapporteurs. My aim is to be a bridge builder and to use my political networks to advance our interests within the European institutions. I would like to focus on a number of priorities: job creation; EU funding for infrastructure, culture and sports; social justice and environment as well as security by which I mean public safety, having safe borders and a crime-free cypberspace.”

The environment is one of the main challenges Europeans are facing and which the EU needs to address. “I personally have reduced the use of plastics in my daily life and I do my shopping without excessive use of plastic bags. And I am conducting a paperless election campaign without posters or flyers. We can create awareness campaigns for people to be more active when it comes to smarter ways of waste management. And I am a strong advocate for Green Europe and the circular economy which means more efficient use of resources. In every household, we should aim for a smarter use of gadgets and food components. The Government of Malta is leading by example in this area. There is no plan B for our planet!”

Voting on 25th May is a citizen’s right, it is an important opportunity to voice an opinion and enable change. “It is not just a vote for a better Europe, it is a vote for a serious and technically prepared representation for Malta in the EP. We need to prioritise key issues such as the EU budget and consequently EU funding, environmental issues, youth opportunities, jobs, social rights and welfare, international cooperation with nonEU countries and tackling migration challenges by adopting a common European strategy. Let’s make the EP a platform for more social and economic opportunities for Malta and Gozo.”

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ROMAN CLASSICS

GELATO GLADIATOR With throngs of tourists providing an endless supply of customers in search of Italy’s gastronomic treats, it's easy to eat not-so-special ice cream in Rome. The trick is knowing where to go. Romans themselves can debate on their favourite gelateria for hours. When you’re on your next Roman Holiday here are 10 tried and tested which we at First believe are some of the best of the best gelaterie. We've paired them with tourist hot spots so you can satisfy your Eternal City selfie and sweet-tooth cravings in a flash. Main image Piazza Navona.

Photograph by Ran Berkovich

n her article ‘Cool Stuff ’, Caius College (University of Cambridge) historian Dr Melissa Calaresu suggests that in Italy iced products were enjoyed by rich and poor alike as long as 300 years ago. Calaresu writes: “The Romans loved the cool taste of ice mixed with fruit; the Emperor Nero reputedly ordered snow to be brought down from the mountains to make into refreshing desserts. Until the late 19th century, ice-cream making relied on large amounts of ice to freeze the mix as it was churned to keep it smooth.

Throughout much of southern Europe, ice was harvested, often from glaciers in the mountains, and transported to towns and cities where it was used to cool buckets of mixes. Snow too was gathered and made into ice by being compressed in pits – in southern Italy known as neviere – where it was kept cold for months. Ice harvesting, and probably ice making too, was a mini-industry with teams of people busy both winter and summer.“ According to Calaresu “coffee houses were places where people met and socialised, read the newspapers and exchanged titbits of gossip. But they also met in ice cream houses – called sorbetterie in Italy.” Today vendors of all kinds ply their ice-cream trade along the streets of Rome.

And this is the catch. Many gelaterie in Rome claim to be “the best” and appearances can be deceiving – some establishments which look a bit dated, and less trendy, may often serve a much better and more genuine product than their glam counterparts. We’ve compiled our list of 10 gelaterie which are our favourites – conveniently they are spread across the Eternal City so you can enjoy site-seeing and gelato like a Roman.

1 Right downtown

CIAMPINI. Located just off busy via del Corso, minutes away from the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the Ara Pacis Monument. Ciampini use lactose free milk for their ice cream. Favourite flavours include Marron Glacé (packed with candied chestnut) and Stracciatella – both delicious served with panna.

2 Trastevere

GELATERIA FIORDILUNA. Minutes away from the Basilica Santa Maria in Trastevere, known for their seasonal flavours such as gelsi neri 66

(mulberry), almond (which is milk free), kaki, and uva fragola. Specialising in chocolate production of different origins, they also produce a good selection of chocolate ice creams and sorbets.

3 St Peters

OLD BRIDGE GELATERIA. Right around the corner from St Peters, famous for their fruit based ice creams. A must to try are mango, pineapple, strawberry and banana.

4 Fontana di Trevi

IL GELATO DI SAN CRISPINO (also has a second location near the Pantheon). This is ice cream at an elevated level. The team are serious about their product and will not produce a flavour if the raw ingredients are not up to scratch. Our favourites include Meringa alla Nocciola made with meringue and IGP Piedmont hazelnuts, and Zabaione with 20 year old Marsala.

5&6 Piazza Navona

DA QUINTO, just off Piazza Navona. Known for its large array of flavours. Besides their ice cream a real treat here are their shakes – select your own ingredient or leave the barman to choose a mix for you. Our personal favourite is poached pears and walnut.

TRE SCALINI, just in front of the Bernini River God fountain. Tre Scalini is the original inventor of the tartuffo ice cream. A bit pricy but well worth the indulgence – the ice cream comes packed with 13 varieties of Austrian chocolate. The recipe is a secret but we think it contains dark cherry and hazelnuts.

7 Testaccio

GIOLITTI GELATERIA. Testaccio is known for its food market, hearty Roman restaurants and pizzerie. Giolitti in Testaccio has been open since 1914 and the family has been making ice cream since 1890. Try torrone rich in candied fruit and malaga spiced with rum.

8 Campo dei Fiori

ALBERTO PICA. A Roman establishment which prides itself on numerous awards for best flavours.

Famous staples include gelato al riso with or without cinnamon, manna made with tree mastic, fig and ricotta flavoured with citrus fruit, and Panforte di Siena.

9 Prati

GELARMONY ROMA, just off Cola di Rienzo. We recommend all the nut flavours, but the walnut is a world apart.

10 Further afield

At the end of the tram line leading to the MAXXI (Rome’s Contemporary Art Museum), hidden in the trendy Ponte Milvio neighbourhood, MONDI is well worth the detour. Known for its extravagant flavours such as Sette Veli, Le Due Mondi, Variegata, Indispensabile, Zuppa Inglese and Mont Blanc – all packed with a multitude of chunky ingredients such as crushed meringue, nuts, chocloate pieces, cereal flakes, and chestnut paste.

ROMAN CLASSICS

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ROMAN CLASSIC

PORK SALTIMBOCCA WITH BRAISED

CABBAGE AND CARROT PUREE 2 pieces of pork loin (200g each) 4 sage leaves 2 slices prosciutto crudo splash olive oil 120ml white wine 1 sprig rosemary 4 cloves garlic salt to taste 60g unsalted butter 1. Butterfly the pork if necessary to create a thin slice. Lay a piece of cling film over the pork and pound it lightly with a rolling pin to flatten to roughly 1cm thickness.

2. Lay a slice of prosciutto over the pork and place two small sage leaves across the length of the slice. Roll up the pork across its length, allowing the sage to run across the entire roll. Once rolled season liberally with salt and fasten with three small lengths of string.

3. Place a pan over medium high heat. Add a splash of olive oil and once heated, place the rolled pork.

4. Cook for roughly one minute or until a golden brown crust forms. Turn the roll of pork and repeat until it is cooked through and browned on all sides.

5. Remove the pork to allow it to rest and deglaze the pan with a glass of white wine.

6. Add a sprig of rosemary and a clove of lightly crushed garlic to the pan and reduce the wine by about half. Add a knob of cold butter and stir constantly until an emulsion is formed.

7. Slice the pork once it is rested and finish with the sauce.

CARROT PUREE 350g carrot, thinly sliced salt to taste 4 sprigs thyme butter as needed

1. Place the carrot in a small pot and cover with water. Add the thyme and a generous pinch of salt to the pot and boil.

2. Once softened and tender (roughly 15 minutes), drain the water from the carrots, remove the thyme leaves and puree immediately with salt as needed and a good amount of butter.

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ROMAN CLASSIC We’ve put our spin on this Roman classic by replacing veal with local pork instead.

Using a lean cut from the loin is the perfect accompaniment for streaky prosciutto crudo and delicate sage leaves. To create a beautiful sauce to accompany the pork we’re going to use the crispy bits that stick to the bottom of the pan as the pork is being cooked, known as the fond, and deglazing with a glass of wine, some aromatics and a few knobs of butter to create a beautiful pan sauce. Cooking by Stephen La Rosa.

Photography by Robert Pace.

BRAISED CABBAGE These braised greens can be made with your choice of cooking greens such as kale, chard, collard greens or even spinach if you want an even quicker cooking time with just as much flavour. The secret to the flavour of these greens lies in the flavour packed sofrito, a combination of cooked down pancetta, carrot, onion and celery.

50g pancetta, diced 60g onion, diced 30g carrots, diced 30g celery, diced

SERVES

2

3 cloves garlic, sliced 250g savoy cabbage lemon juice to taste salt to taste

1. Add the pancetta to a cold pot. Place the pot over medium heat and let the fat from the pancetta render out and brown. Once browned add some olive oil.

2. Add the chopped onions to the pot with a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes till the onions are soft. Stir occasionally to scrape off the fond from the pancetta.

3. Add the carrots and celery and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to remove the fond.

4. Lower the heat slightly, add the garlic and cook for a further 5 minutes.

5. Once the vegetables have softened add the chopped cabbage along with a pinch of salt and stir well. Cook for a few minutes till the cabbage has softened.

6. Add a few drops of water and stir well. Cover the pot and leave the cabbage to braise for 15 minutes or until tender.

7. Taste the cabbage and adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon juice as needed.

8. Keep warm or serve immediately as needed.

If you are interested to learn more about how to cook delicious Italian Classics join Mediterranean Culinary Academy’s course on Regional Cuisines of Italy.

For more information visit www.mcamalta.com or email contact@mcamalta.com 69

Having only just returned from performing at a major dance competition in New York, the students at Seed Dance Studios are already hard at work rehearsing for their next performance in Malta in June. Marisha Bonnici, Seed’s Artistic Director, tells Laura Bonnici what drives this unique dance school. Portrait photograph by Jan Zammit. or the artistic director of Seed Dance Studios, Marisha Bonnici, dance is so much more than a hobby. “Dance is a means of enjoyment and expression,” she says. “It offers people a healthy way to express themselves while meeting friends who share the same passion. Seed Dance Studios gives a home to students who love dance, nurturing them, and walking with them on the journey of dance both locally and internationally.”

In the few short years since Marisha founded Seed Dance Studios in Malta, the dance school has recorded a remarkable number of island dance-firsts, including being the first to take part in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and reach the final for three consecutive years, hold Street Jazz ISTD examinations and American Ballet Theatre examinations in Malta, the latter under the direction of the renowned Ms Julie Wherlock from Ballettschule Theatre Basel.

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Photo by Andrea Gianfortuna

PLANTING the SEED of DANCE

Photo by Andrea Gianfortuna

PROMOTION

PROMOTION

Photo by Neil Grech

“DANCE IS A MEANS OF ENJOYMENT AND EXPRESSION, IT OFFERS PEOPLE A HEALTHY WAY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WHILE MEETING FRIENDS WHO SHARE THE SAME PASSION. SEED DANCE STUDIOS GIVES A HOME TO STUDENTS WHO LOVE DANCE, NURTURING THEM, AND WALKING WITH THEM ON THE JOURNEY OF DANCE BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.”

T

he school is also home to Malta’s only Royal Ballet International Scholar – one of just 10 in the world that are undertaking this special programme designed to support young dancers. Many Seed students go on to pursue dance, taking summer intensive places at the Royal Ballet School, Paris Opera, Princesse Grace Monaco, English National Ballet School, Rosella High Tower Cannes, American Ballet Theatre, Ballettchule Theatre Basel, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary, and Elmhurst Ballet School.

The latest in the long list of master classes and international opportunities provided by Seed Dance Studios to its students has been their participation in a prestigious dance competition held in New York – the YAGP. As the world’s largest competition for dancers aged 9 to 19, regional semi-finals are held worldwide before a select few are awarded the honour of a place at the New York final – which included, this year,

14 young dancers from Seed Dance Studios.

“Being involved in such competitions is always something that pushes dancers to succeed, and the opportunity to dance with wonderful talent and esteemed judges on world-class stages such as these is a dream for many children. It’s surreal to think that, for our students, that dream is now a reality. Working towards such an achievement brings much learning and joy to them, while giving them a vision of what the dance world could offer if they look beyond the island, work hard and dream,” continues Marisha.

In the YAGP final, which was held in New York between 16 and 21 April, Seed Dance students aged from 9 to 15 performed a classical ballet piece. Now back at home in Malta, the students are already channelling the new skills and confidence discovered via this one-of-akind experience into an inspiring new performance to be presented later next month.

“The performance and awards ceremony on the 22nd June will showcase some of our students and celebrate those who will be graduating from our school and moving on to full-time international vocational training,” explains Marisha. “It is a chance for the younger students to watch a short performance of the older students and let them DREAM! Some of these students also started with a dream at a young age and, for them, the dream is slowly turning into a reality – their hard work, commitment, perseverance, dedication and overall attributes have led them to this moment:

that of attending full-time vocational training.”

The hour-long performance, which will showcase classical ballet, contemporary dance, Spanish dance and street jazz, is also tailored to encourage those considering attending the school over the next scholastic year, when Seed will continue to welcome international guest teachers and give students opportunities to further their dance education through unique and interactive events.

The performance is set to be a bitter-sweet moment for Marisha, who calls her students her ‘butterflies’ in recognition of their potential to metamorphosise into anything they dream of becoming in life. “Seeing my butterflies fly off, knowing that I have supported them along this journey, makes it a rather emotional time for me. As a teacher I too have a dream of seeing my students flourish and reap what they have sown. I couldn’t be prouder of them! But at the same time, saying ‘good luck’ to these kids is rather heart-breaking. Seed will always be their home and they will always hold a special place in my heart, and I hope to also keep a place in theirs for the rest of their journey. They will always be a member of #TeamSeed.”

The Seed Dance Studios performance and awards ceremony will be held at St Agatha in Rabat, at 6pm on 22 June. For more information and ticketing, as well as new scholastic information details, visit the Seed Dance Studios Facebook page facebook.com/pg/Seedancestudios 71

GARDENS

IL-GNIEN TAL-MILORDA

Her Ladyship's Garden. Mature trees, butterflies, scurrying tiny green lizards, birds, scents of citrus and flowering trees, a small greenhouse which has seen better days but remains magical, foot paths which are not as even as they may once have been leading to different levels and hidden corners - these are the wonderful Sa Maison Gardens, tucked underneath Floriana, just down the road and around the corner from the Curia. Photography by First Magazine.

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(

GARDENS

(Sa Maison Gardens)

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GARDENS

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GARDENS

◀ The Radiant, Ugo Rondinone's monumental stone figure resembling a rudimentary rock totem at Sa Maison Gardens. The artist has represented Switzerland in the Venice Biennale.

hen we thought about working on a feature on Sa Maison Gardens, the whole idea was captivating because the gardens are in a corner of Floriana which you can easily miss as you drive by, parking isn't always easy and definitely not 'across the road'. But we really liked the idea because the garden is sort of secluded and multilayered. It's built on a series of terraces right in the fortifications of Floriana. When we started researching the garden we thought we'd find a romantic, Victorian-type story about the garden, but in fact we were quite surprised to find that the person that this garden was named after, Lady Julia Lockwood, lived a very difficult and turbulent life. After years of abuse in a terrible marriage she managed to get a divorce and moved to Malta. She lived in the garden between 1842 and 1856, giving the garden its Maltese name “Il-Ġnien tal-Milorda” (her Ladyship’s garden).

Malta became a very happy place for her and she enjoyed the gardens for many years – they certainly must have had healing effects on her traumatic past. Over the years she planted a variety of fruit and ornamental trees, installed fountains and built up the gardens in general. Unfortunately by the early 1850s she was asked to vacate the premises and her house, which was situated just under the watch tower, was later demolished and the garden taken over by the military who were responsible for its maintenance until 1903, when it was taken over by the civil government.

When we saw where this research was leading it was the last thing we were thinking of, but actually it's quite a beautiful story. The gardens are reclusive and still have the tiered terraced look reminiscent of its English patron. Sa Maison Gardens are the perfect place to go when you want a break from everything, the only thing you'll find besides peace – are birds, butterflies and small quick lizards – nature which is becoming increasingly rare in urban areas. Here you can sit down, read a book and find your own reclusive spot. And that's why we decided to feature Sa Maison Gardens for this issue of First Magazine. It's a quiet place which sort of feels or looks uncared for, and that's part of its charm, because although it doesn't have flowers planted all over the place, and although the trees are not in their best condition, it’s still a place which you can enjoy and relax and where you can daydream, and that's something we all need in our lives.

When you're there try to spot the broom tree and the juniper berry bush, which are increasingly hard to come across.

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SPOTS

ANCIENT GREECE. Bring a piece of classic ancient Greek culture to your home. Decorative figurines, statues, bookends, candleholders and more at HENRI Luxury Gift Boutique. Unique gift ideas for him, for her or for yourself. Outlets: Pjazza Tigné and Mdina (next to Palazzo Falson).

Tel: 2010 6306 or facebook/henrimalta

une 2019 marks the centenary of the 1919 Sette Giugno riots, one of the most defining moments from recent Maltese history. Teatru Malta in partnership with FCN will be re-telling this historical event through the eyes of Malta’s Artists of the Year – The New Victorians. Musicmaking sister duo Bettina and Philippa Cassar are composing, directing and performing in this one-of a kind outdoor musical at Fort St Elmo’s Piazza d’Armi on the 7, 8, 9,14,15 and 16 June in Valletta. VII’s cast boasts talented names like Jacob Piccinino, Leo Graham, Lee-N Ellul, Christian Scicluna, Andrew Sowrey, Matthew Hunt, Jeremy Grech, Nicola Azzopardi, Sandie Von Brockdorff, Rebecca Camilleri, Zoe Camilleri and Julienne Restall, with the participation of ZfinMalta. This contemporary piece includes the work of set designer Aldo Moretti, writer Erin Carter, translator Simon Bartolo and costume designer Luke Azzopardi with the support and artistic contribution of camilleriparismode. Performances begin at 9pm and are suitable for audiences of all ages. This show is proudly supported by Arts Council Malta under the Auspices of the Ministry of Justice, Culture and Local Government, camilleriparismode, LESA, Heritage Malta and Festivals Malta. For more information on VII (Sette) visitwww.teatrumalta.org.mt or call 2122 0255.

Tickets are €15 with a €12 concession price.

LANTERNS. Handmade lanterns by Mdina Glass look stunning indoors or out and each piece is finished off with a high-grade leather handle for a timeless look. Light them up at night with a candle or fairy lights for a truly striking ambience. See the options in-store or online at www.mdinaglass.com.mt. For more info tel: +356 2141 5786, email onlinesales@mdinaglass.com.mt or find Mdina Glass on facebook.com/mdinaglass

TABLE LAMPS. Make a bold statement and create the perfect evening ambience with distinctive handmade glass table lamps by Mdina Glass.

Available in a range of colour patterns, shapes and sizes, these wonderful pieces can be bought with or without the shade. See them in-store or online at www.mdinaglass.com.mt. For more info tel: +356 2141 5786, email onlinesales@mdinaglass.com.mt or find Mdina Glass on facebook.com/mdinaglass ES BEIGES THE NEW ERA OF THE ESSENTIAL. With LES BEIGES, Lucia Pica, CHANEL Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, pursues her quest for these airy textures. For the first time, microfluidic technology – already used in skincare and fragrance – puts its magic to work in a water-fresh tint with an exceptional nude skin effect. “LES BEIGES WATER-FRESH TINT is a new makeup product that enhances women’s natural beauty. It is worn like a subtle and undetectable second skin”, explains Lucia Pica. In 2019, colour radiates on the lips with LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW LIP BALM to heighten a natural healthy glow, while eyes are accentuated with a colourful breeze using LES BEIGES NATURAL EYESHADOW PALETTE. As for the legendary LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW SHEER POWDER, it unveils a distinctive signature to make it even more desirable. Chanel is distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd.

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GAMES. Find a selection of stylish classic games, including noughts and crosses and chess sets, which will provide equal amounts of fun and style. Only at HENRI Luxury Gift Boutique.

Unique gift ideas for him, for her or for yourself. Outlets: Pjazza Tigné and Mdina (next to Palazzo Falson). Tel: 2010 6306 or facebook/henrimalta

direzzjoni u muzika ta’

TH E N E W VI C TO R I A N S kitba ta’

E R I N C A RTE R traduzzjoni ta’

S I M O N BA RTO LO kostumi ta’

LU K E A Z ZO PA R D I bl-ghajnuna ta’ camilleriparismode

bil- partecipazzjoni ta’

kontribut artistiku ta’

POP CULTURE

HELLO MADAMEX

Madonna and Maluma perform “Medellin’” at the May Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Photograph by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP.

The Queen of Pop is back with her fourteenth studio album Madame X due this 14th June, just in time for summer. In an interview with Billboard following her 1st May Billboard Music Awards performance with Columbian singer/songwriter Maluma, Madonna explained how the title evolved; “[Madame X] was a name given to me when I was 19 and I first moved to New York, by a woman who I looked up to and admired,” Madonna told Billboard's Senior Director of Charts. According to Billboard 'The woman she was referring to was modern dance genius Martha Graham, who influenced Madonna’s choreography as a mentor, prior to her death in 1991.’ “And she gave me that name because she said she couldn’t recognize all my different personas, because I kept changing the way I looked. And that was in the beginning of my career, when I didn’t think about who I should be or what I should be... I was experimenting,” Madonna continued. “And so I felt like I had come full circle, and gave the record that name, because I’m in the same frame of mind.”* *Source: billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8509948/madonna-madame-x-album-campaign-rollout

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of Mediterranean heritage

GĦANNEJJA