Decadence, Now

Decadence, Now explores key relationships between exponential European visual artists, musicians and writers from the Belle Epoque Period who symbiotically inspired each other’s work into visionary manifestations of beauty.

This project is one part reactionary art installation and one part concert series, aiming to argue that decadence is more than a compendium of the transgressive themes and images by which it is usually identified; a zeitgeist which has been carried on well into the twenty-first century, seeking to reposition artefacts, reconstruct narratives and reopen artistic debates through visual, sung and spoken conversations; creating a friction and a presence that is expressed by a number of collaborators investigating a common theme.

Essentially aiming to produce a highquality and engaging programme of events ranging from exhibitions featuring loaned artefacts from acclaimed European museums to a weekly series of salon recitals; Decadence,Now seeks to create a sustainable, research-based platform which supports collaboration and opens up possibilities for internationalisation and an open multi-cultural discourse promoting exploration and plurality.

Architect Andrew Borg Wirth, couturier and fashion historian Luke Azzopardi, pianist Lucia Micallef, soprano Gillian Zammit, and theatre director Denise Mulholland are the curators of Decadence, Now which will feature contemporary reactions from architect Michael Zerafa, poet and writer Maria Theuma, composer Karl Fiorini, Azzopardi, Borg Wirth and performances by world class Italian tenor Raffaele Abete and German baritone André Morsch.

Decadence, Now runs from the 11th to the 31st of May at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta. This project is supported by Art’s Council Malta’s Programme Support Grant, the Embassy of Austria, the Embassy of France, the Embassy of Germany, the Embassy of Italy, the Embassy of Spain, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Heritage Malta, University of Malta Department of Art & Art History, University of Malta Department of English, Valletta Cultural Agency, Camilleri Paris Mode, MAPFRE Middlesea, MAVENRY, University of

Malta - Department of Art & Art history, University of Malta - Department of English, MAPFRE Middlesea, SA Consult, Von Peach, 66 St Paul’s Valletta,Transcripta, Intervisions (framers), Casa Rocca Piccola, Artemisia Fine Arts & Antiques, Express Trailers, The Malta National Archives and is under the patronage of Valeria Limentani and Jordi Goetstouwers of the Virgata Group.

For more information on Decadence, Now and to purchase your salon recital tickets visit www.cityofart.eu