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Politics, morality, ethics, beauty, creativity - all are essential parts of being human. They also all have a conduit in common—the arts.

This issue of THINK takes a close look at Malta’s art, giving us critical insight into our humanity. From the historic to the contemporary, Maltese art has always been influenced by global forces. Frank Portelli and Esprit Barthet adopted the cubist aesthetic. Gabriel Caruana’s ceramic works transformed the Maltese art scene. But contextualising their work in an international setting is key to truly appreciating and understanding our heritage, argues Nikki Petroni. 

Through the arts, this issue also challenges our human tendency to think in dichotomies. Prof. Vince Briffa discusses how he translates this phenomenon into confrontational installations. An interview with artist Aaron Bezzina reveals how his journey to creating compelling sculptures from scavenged material began.

But art is not confined only to traditional media. Not so long ago frowned upon as an art form, comics and film are having new light shone upon them in the world of academia. Prof. Gloria Lauri-Lucente and Dr Fabrizio Foni discuss the art of the adaptation, showing us new perspectives.

Finally, Charlotte Stafrace tells us how she is trying to bridge the gap between young and old, learning lessons through art and storytelling. Active Age – Intergenerational Dialogue has highlighted the things we all have in common, regardless of age, gender, or race.

On top of all of this, issue 23 of THINK has a wealth of other research within its pages. We cover self-driving cars, cybersecurity, and question how Malta manages its waste, or doesn’t. Get involved. Grab your copy.

THINK, the University of Malta’s research magazine, can be picked up for free at the Msida Campus or with the MaltaToday newspaper in newsagents around Malta and Gozo. It is also available online at www.um.edu.mt/think, on or liked on .