Malta has made its first-ever appearance at the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, marking a new milestone for the country’s cultural sector.The Malta Pavilion opened on 5th September with BEJN / IN-BETWEEN, a collaborative exhibition featuring Maltese artists Norbert Francis Attard, PONKS, Sam Alekksandra and Julien Vinet and Michael Quinton, curated by Moon Hyun Jeoung.The artists spent three months in Gwangju developing site-specific installations exploring connections between Malta and Korea through installation, sound, poetry and performance.One of the exhibition’s most striking works brings Malta’s festa tradition face-to-face with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Norbert Francis Attard’s towering PERISTYLE sculpture draws inspiration from traditional festa decorations, with its structure spelling out the word “GAZA”.Elsewhere, PONKS’ ROPE TEMPLE combines Maltese and Korean traditions and features the work of more than 140 poets from both countries, while Michael Quinton created a soundscape using recordings gathered across Malta and Korea.Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea described Malta’s debut as a “historical milestone”, saying it strengthens the country’s cultural presence internationally and creates opportunities for further collaboration and exchange.The Gwangju Biennale is considered one of Asia’s leading contemporary art events, with its roots stretching back to 1994. Malta’s pavilion will remain open until 15th November.What do you think of Malta’s first-ever Gwangju Biennale pavilion?•