59 Days of IndependenceConcept co-developed by

Heather Layton and Brian Bailey

Norbert Francis Attard

in collaboration with KAŻINSKA

The front terrace of Pjazza Teatru Rjal on Republic Street, Valletta, Malta

59 Days of IndependenceA public global art project co-developed by Heather Layton and Brian Bailey

The 59 Days of Independence project is a celebration of those days on

which governmental autonomy was attained by the Commonwealth nations.

These 59 days of national significance are being commemorated globally

throughout 2014 to underline the common desire for governmental freedom

expressed by these countries in recent history. To establish international

connections, an artist from each of the 59 states is to create a project

which incorporates an essential cultural element of another Commonwealth

country. The execution of the project is to take place on the Independence

Day pertaining to the country of each respective artist.

59 Days of IndependenceA public global art project co-developed by Heather Layton and Brian Bailey

Maltese artist Norbert Francis Attard holds an affinity to the Caribbean country of Jamaica. Although

Malta and Jamaica have divergent historical experiences, both are islands with colourful and vibrant

cultural traditions. To intermesh Malta’s day of Independence with Jamaica’s culture, Attard transposed

Maltese folkloric, popular and institutional themes, including the Maltese National anthem, into a

Ska composition. The rhythmic sounds of Ska are radically contrasted to these musical themes

making the project a challenging one.

The task of remixing these themes was carried out by local band KażinSka, a contemporary sextet

specializing in performing ska and reggae music. The score was played on the 17th of September

2014, as part of Malta’s 50th anniversary Independence Day celebrations, at Floriana granaries,

in the main square at Floriana, Malta, organized by the Nationalist Party (Christian-Democratic

political party). After performing on the stage, the band walked around the square, playing these

tunes. The band was accompanied with animators and four dancers dressed in green, yellow and

black, representing the Jamaican colours.

KAŻINSKA

Justin Galea - Keyboards, Leader

Michael Galea - Drums

Karl Pullicino - Tuba

Mark Farrugia - Trumpet

Fabian Bonello - Saxaphone

Toni Gialianze - Samples, Synths

DANCERS

Mariele Żammit

Rochelle Gatt

Julienne Schembri

Rachel Calleja

Photography on this spread by Joe Peel

KażinSka is a contemporary sextet playing traditional “Marċi Brijjużi”

The KażinSka Project is the brainchild of Justin Galea, a musician as well as a Cultural and

Creative Industries graduate and researcher. Spending a year studying in London, Justin notices

that whilst other countries embrace their roots by merging traditional music and culture with a more

contemporary approach, this has seldom happened in Malta. Whilst brimming with festiveness and

exultation, banda marches and feasts tend to be hidden in their own niche that somewhat seems to

have remained stagnant for years, whilst the contemporary music scene is completely disassociated

from it or following another route.

The KażinSka idea stemmed from two previous concerts by local ska group Zalza Kukkanja.

The music of KażinSka, as the name suggests primarily focuses on ska music as well as on the

traditional banda marches. KażinSka however gives its own interpretation to the banda marches’

melodies incorporating these into ska, reggae, samba, jazz, R&B and other styles to create a joyous

atmosphere synonymous to a “Festa Maltija” but with a contemporary sound. KażinSka play mostly

instrumental music with sporadic lyrics uttered in association with the particular tune. During the

debut concert in Isla’s magnificent Gardjola Gardens as well as their appearance at Lissen Festival

2012, KażinSka managed to attract a numerous audience that participated and interacted with the

band and the music.

In May 2013, KażinSka have recorded and released their version of the march “Al Pacino” by David

Agius and and consequently have performed in a number of festivals namely Għanafest, EarthGarden

and Lissen Festival 2013 during Notte Bianca at Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

Norbert Francis AttardBorn in Malta in 1951. Based on the island of Gozo (Malta) and Berlin (Germany)

Norbert Francis Attard started as a self-taught painter and graphic artist before turning to

installation art in 1998. He graduated in Architecture from the University of Malta in 1977,

practicing the profession as architect for twenty years until 1996. He lived in Germany in

1978/1979 working with the firm ‘Licht in Raum’, directed by Johannes Dinnebier, one of

Germany’s pioneers in light design.

Attard now focuses on a contemporary art practice that incorporates architecture, sculpture,

photography, video and installation, to explore his major interests in places and their memo-

ries. He blurs the boundaries of these disciplines to incorporate the irreducible physicality of

sites, and to explore their sedimented multiple layers of memory, treating them as a product of

place, of social interaction, and as a generative process.

Exhibited internationally:7th Moved Wind, Kassel, Germany, (2014); Fjerrerup I Bund & Grund,

Fjellerup, Denmark, (2013); Maifesta 9 Parallel Events, Genk, Belgium (2012); Beaufort 04,

De Panne, Belgium (2012); Meridian/Urban Project, Berlin, Germany (2011); Galeria Nuble,

Santander, Spain (2011); OSTRALE 011, Dresden, Germany; I-Park, Connetticut, USA (2011); 5th

Biennial VentoSul, Curitiba, Brazil (2009); 25th Alexandria Biennial, Egypt (2009); CUBE OPEN,

Manchester, UK (2009); 2nd Bienal de Canarias, Canary Islands (2009); INHABIT 09, Brisbane,

Australia (2009); Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK. (2008); Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin,

Ireland (2008); INTRUDE 366, Zendai Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China (2008); 3rd Echigo

Tsumari Triennale, Japan, (2006); Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan (2005); Casoria Museum

of Contemporary Art, Naples, Italy (2005); ARTIADE, Athens, Greece (2004); Macedonia Museum

of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece (2003); 8th Havana Biennale (2003); 2nd Liverpool

Biennale (2002); Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland (2002); FLOATING LAND, Noosa,

Australia (2001); DIASPORA, Oviedo, Spain (1998), amongst others.

Represented Malta in the 48th Venice Biennale in 1999.

He is a founding member of stART (2002) - a group of Maltese contemporary artists; a committee

member of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (2002-2005); presently committee member

of Piazza Teatry Rjal since May 2013 and currently director of GOZOcontemporary since 2001 - an

art space, offering self-directed residencies to international and local artists, on the island of Gozo.

Since 2002, three books have been published about his work: I See Red Everywhere (2002);

Four Olympics (2004); and Between Earth and Sky (2007). His first monograph publication

covering the last 20 years of his work will be published in 2017.

Nominated for the Cool Silicon Award, Dresden, Germany, 2011

59 Days of IndependenceMusic performanence50th anniversary of Malta’s independenceFloriana Granaries, Floriana, Maltaperformed on 17th September 2014

COLLABORATORS ON THE PROJECT

HEATHER LAYTON

Artist and Educator

Senior lecturer, Department of Art and Art History

University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. USA

BRIAN BAILEY

Artist and Educator

Assistant Professor of Adolescent Education

Nazareth College, Rochester, New York, USA

NORBERT FRANCIS ATTARD

Contemporary artist based in Gozo, Malta

and Berlin, Germany

Concept and project coordination

www.norbertattard.com

KAŻINSKA

Justin Galea - Keyboards, Leader

Michael Galea - Drums

Karl Pullicino - Tuba

Mark Farrugia - Trumpet

Fabian Bonello - Saxaphone

Toni Gialianze - Samples, Synths

DANCERS

Mariele Żammit

Rochelle Gatt

Julienne Schembri

Rachel Calleja

CHARLES STROUD

Coordination of the project at the Granaries, Floriana

Photography and catalogue design

Norbert Francis Attard

Photography on page 12 and 13

Joe Peel

NICOLA PETRONI

Text and editing

XEROX

Printing of Catalogue, Marsa, Malta