'Zieme' sculpture removed from Valletta

A few weeks after its installation at City Gate in Valletta, 'Zieme', the controversial sculpture by Austin Camilleri, was removed yesterday. 

The three-legged horse - a temporary structure - sparked, in equal measure, outrage and delight, as well as plenty of discussion about the role of art in Valletta, the sculpture's purpose and its meaning.

The piece was one of two inaugurating the Valletta International Visual Arts festival (VIVA), which ran between 1 and 7 September - the other was 'Power Exchange' by JP Azzopardi and Michael Camilleri, an investigation of power dynamics characterized by sado-masochistic imagery.

While Camilleri and the VIVA organisers had hoped to extend the sculpture's remit at Valletta's City Gate, it appears as though their hopes were dashed, as the sculpture has now been removed.