Performance installation by Parisian artist at Pjazza Teatru Rjal

The Arts Council Malta is coordinating a performance installation by French artist Paul Frank Wagner, which is being set up in collaboration with Pjazza Teatru Rjal – the open air theatre designed by Renzo Piano. This installation is also made possible through the support of Masquerade Theatre and Arts School.

Pjazza Teatru Rjal will be hosting the artwork on 19 July, between 7pm-9pm during which he will perform one of his unique installations. The installation will tell a story of creation, influenced by the beauty and sounds of Malta.  

For his installation in Valletta, Wagner said, “I wanted a truly unique setting for my work, and Pjazza Teatru Rjal proved to be that perfect setting; the space in which the installation is created is as much a part of the work as the materials used.” 

Wagner is a contemporary artist based in Paris. His art is strongly influenced by what was coined in the 1960s as Conceptual Art, Arte Povera, Land Art and Minimalism Movements of the 60s.

The use of rope as his main material essentially aims to promote a revolutionary art, free from any convention and power of structure. His primary inspiration originates from a fascination for Christo and Jeanne Claude’s large scale outdoor installations whereby rope is among one of the main materials used.

Texture, accessibility, recycling propensity, and most importantly an ability to both connect and free distinct elements are the reasons why Paul has chosen "rope" as the central element in his artwork. He has created and developed a unique art form of 3-Dimensional rope painting by suspending a frame with ropes through various points of attachments. The creation of each installation is well documented and the filming and photography are an integral part of his works.

Paul Frank Wagner was born in 1970. Raised in NYC, he studied art history and worked in the Luxury Goods Industry before becoming an independent artist. Today, he travels the world creating Installations in the most unique locations in the world which result in one-of-a-kind rope paintings. His next installation is in Bretagne in August.