Exhibitions › Malta Biennal 2026
Pavilion
Counterpoint Pavilion
Malta Biennale 2026, Thematic Pavilion
Venue
Old Armoury of the Knights, Birgu, Malta
Dates
March 14 – May 29, 2026
Curated by
Sofie Renap
Organised by
Spazio Nour, under the patronage of the Belgian Embassy in Rome
Artists
Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi
Iris Eysermans
Maurizio Chiocchetti
Maurizio Chiocchetti participated in the second edition of the Malta Biennale 2026, held under the theme “CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT” across historic sites in Valletta, Vittoriosa and Gozo.
The Italian photographer exhibited in the Counterpoint Pavilion, a thematic pavilion curated by Sofie Renap and organised by Spazio Nour, under the patronage of the Belgian Embassy in Rome. The pavilion brought together three artists in dialogue: Iranian painter Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi, Belgian textile artist Iris Eysermans, and Chiocchetti for photography, an international triptych weaving together sound, light, photography, painting and textile in a site-specific installation.
The concept draws from the musical structure of counterpoint, where independent voices unfold simultaneously while contributing to a larger unity. Built from layers of linen and silk opening toward a quiet centre, with a gently swaying plumb bob as a symbol of balance between movement and stillness, the pavilion offers a refuge in a world saturated with speed and noise, inviting visitors to slow down and embrace presence as a form of care.
Behind the work
Preparation and backstage of the production: how seven photographs were transferred by hand onto raw linen (the same material, the same dimensions as the panels opposite) and the physical process and spatial logic of the installation.