Mary Samut-Tagliaferro writes:
ISABELLE BORG BEQUEST (1959-2010)
The Special Collections Department of the University of Malta Library is pleased to announce that it has recently received from Mr Graham Cooper an important donation of material formerly belonging to the well-known artist Isabelle Borg (1959-2010).
Isabelle, who was an alumna of The Camberwell College of Arts and of The University of Malta, left her mark on the local art scene producing works that are highly individualistic and instantly recognisable not only for her palette such as her signature vibrant reds but also for their bold and perceptive treatment of their subject.
The donated material chronicles the life and output of this gifted artist who also taught History of Art at the University of Malta. Included amongst the material are papers relating to her other interests such as the work she undertook within the Moviment Mara Maltija (MMM), a women’s pressure group against family violence, which she co-founded. Some of her papers also focus on her keen interest in local ex-voto paintings, a subject on which she produced a number of learned publications including the book, “The maritime ex-voto: a culture of thanksgiving in Malta (2005)”.
The material includes slides, family photographs as well as photographs of her various paintings, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, lecture notes, minutes of MMM meetings, draft papers of her writings and exhibition catalogues, invitations, reviews, posters, visitors’ books and so much more besides.
The collection, which will be known as the “Isabelle Borg Bequest” will be added to her collection of books, (which was donated to the Library in 2012), and will shortly be made available to all bona fide researchers for consultation in the Archives & Special Collections Department.
This bequest will serve to further enrich our special collections and will also be a source of reference not only for current but also for future researchers interested in the life and work of this talented artists who was a leading light of her generation.