Historic Books Inspire New 3D Printed Sculpture Exhibition At Malta’s National Library
An exhibition at the National Library of Malta is inviting the public to explore an unexpected dialogue between the past and the future.
Artist Francesca Balzan has launched Incunabula 1474–2025, a striking collection of porcelain sculptures that blend the earliest era of European printing with today’s 3D printing technology.
The exhibition draws inspiration from the Library’s rare incunabula collection, early printed books dating back to as far as 1474. Balzan uses 3D printed porcelain forms as the base for each sculpture, then reshapes, carves and rebuilds them by hand, creating a deliberate tension between machine precision and human expression.
Balzan describes the work as a reflection on how technological revolutions echo across time. Just as the first printed books transformed how people accessed knowledge, today’s digital and AI-driven tools are reshaping the world once again.
Curated by Justine Balzan Demajo, the project also pays tribute to the Library itself, with sculptures presented in pure white to mirror the neoclassical architecture and the paper of the historic volumes housed within it.
Incunabula 1474–2025 runs until 12th December 2025 at the National Library of Malta in Valletta.
Entry is free. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday until 12.30pm.
Will you be checking it out this weekend?
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