The Department of French at the University of Malta, in collaboration with the Research Group RETiiNA.International (Recherches Esthétiques & Théorétiques sur les images & imaginaires Nouveaux & Anciens) have organised and hosted their 4th international conference, this year on the theme of ‘Existence et Littérature’, at Valletta Campus on the 8 and 9 May 2023.

This conference is the result of a steady and interdisciplinary collaboration which has already led to the publication of three books with L’Harmattan, within the collection ‘Eidos’ : Art et Extériorité (2017), Interprétation et Extériorité (2019), Photographie et Interprétation (2022).

Dr Marilyn Mallia, Head of the French Department and Prof. Richard Spiteri have coordinated this year’s conference with Prof François Soulages from Université Paris 8, leader of the RETiiNA.International group.The conference was inaugurated by Pro-Rector Prof. Carmen Sammut and by the French Cultural Counsellor from the French Embassy, Mr Renaud Lallement. The interdisciplinary nature of the conference is reflected in the diversity of participants and topics. There were contributions from Maltese academics from the department of French and the department of Maltese, whereas the six participants from France hailed from the domains of literature, fine arts, aesthetics and even mathematics. Proceedings will be published shortly with L’Harmattan.