Government Set To Spend €200,000 On Eight-Legged Horse Statue In Gozo
An eight-legged horse bronze statue that was proposed on ODZ land in Gozo is set to cost the government more than €200,000.
Lovin Malta had initially reported the surfacing of the development proposal, with The Shift News now revealing that the sculpture commissioning is set to cost as much as €209,000.
The eight-legged horse concept was designed by local contemporary Gozitan artist Austin Camilleri, who is well-known for his Zieme and Neil Agius statue.
It will be placed on the beach along Triq is-Sagħtrija according to an application filed by the Gozo Ministry and architect Christina Said.
In July, Camilleri told The Shift that his fee will include the fabrication of the model and silicone casting, bronze production in Italy, transport, installation and maintenance, architectural and engineering fees, and an honorarium.
Apart from the statue proposal raising questions on land ownership, the area also falls within ODZ and forms part of the Żebbuġ coastline.
“That’s private property, it belongs to my mother. How can this individual John Borg ask for a permit on someone else’s property? We strongly object to this monument,” one representation said.
Close to the proposed site, salt pans which are still used to this day are situated, with the Xwejni area being one of the most untouched locations on the Gozitan island.
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