EXIT
Interactive sculpture installation
Norbert Francis Attard (Malta)
The purpose of this installation is to reflect on the theme of the phenomenology
of migrations, exiles, the
movement and fusion of peoples and their
cultures in the process of displacement.
EXIT is an interactive sculpture: a see-
saw penetrates through an external wall
of the ‘Model House’ (place of
exhibition) . One half of the see-saw is
inside the internal space of the ‘Model
House’ and the other half is on the
external side (outside), meaning the
street or pavement. The wall is
symbolically significant in representing
division, a demarcation, separating
borders. The people standing behind
each side of the wall are physically
divided and unable to communicate. On a
larger scale this becomes even more
significant with one nation separated
from another.
The very small opening of a hole in the
external / internal wall through which
passes the see-saw is the only window
which allows some communication to
either side. The sea-saw, therefore,
stands for co-operation, sharing and
working together. Of its very nature
this device requires one to balance the
other, co-operate with its counter-part.
One cannot ride a see-saw alone.
The idea is therefore to see beyond the
wall that blocks our vision. There is
an element of tolerance involved that is
necessary in allowing others who have to
live in another culture. The underlying
philosophy of this interactive sculpture
is that the spectator does not adopt a
passive role while looking at it, but
rather becomes more of an actor and gets
involved in the same way we inhabit the
world.
EXIT evokes the brunt of illogical
politics. Why would “balance” be sought
by means of a see-saw that is actually
blocked by a wall, screening “the other
side”? Why would one choose to “see-
saw” rather than take the logical route,
pass through the door and meet “the
other” on the plateau of convergence?
This installation, erected as a metaphor
for the theme of exile and hopeful
fusion, addresses the obsession with
political circumnavigation as the
absurdity that defies reason. Does the
interactive nature of the piece threaten
to turn participants into obliging
partners to the state of play?
Norbert Francis Attard
Born in 1951 in Malta. Based on the
island of Gozo, Malta.
Norbert Francis Attard, an installation
artist with an international reputation,
has made a name for himself with his
poetic and original approach to a
multifarious series of artistic
projects. His work combines social,
cultural and political aspects together
with overlays of scientific and
religious themes. Always using
unorthodox materials, his creations
constantly manifest a constant
architect’s disciplined eye for detail.
Born in Malta in 1951, Attard now works
from his Gozo-based studio. The unique
pre-history of Malta and Gozo and the
characteristics of the overall
Mediterranean spirit of place have
provided inspiration for many of his
works. Trained as an architect, he
practiced the profession for twenty
years until 1996, during which period he
also worked as an artist creating
prints, posters, postage stamps and
other works. In 1998 he turned to
installation art and has since worked in
several disciplines, merging expressions
of architecture, sculpture, video and
photography in different and various
media. The relationship of his work to
place and memory of site is
fundamental, as is also his attempt
to create balance and harmony through
inter-relatedness of contradictory
themes.
He has created many context-specific
installations in several countries and
has participated in many collective
international exhibitions: in Scotland,
England, Cuba, Austria, Italy, Spain,
Germany, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Israel,
Greece, South Korea, Australia, U.S.A.,
Japan and Taiwan. His work has been
shown extensively, including namely at
the Edinburgh Arts Festival in Scotland,
the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale in Japan,
and including the Liverpool and Havana
Biennials amongst others. In 1999, he
represented Malta in the 48th Venice
Biennale.
Norbert Francis Attard is also
Director of Gozo Contemporary, an
institution which hosts artists in
residence for workshops at his studio
