Counterpoint Pavilion
Malta Biennale 2026 — Thematic Pavilion
Old Armoury of the Knights, Birgu, Malta
March 14 – May 29, 2026

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.

Sources:
The Counterpoint Pavilion – maltabiennale.art
Counterpoint Pavilion – spazionour.com
Com’è la Biennale di Malta 2026 – Artribune
Malta Biennale 2026 – Artpil
Clean / Clear / Cut – e-flux
Malta Biennale 2026 – Sculpture Network