In June 2019, a lecturer and student from 28 countries were chosen by Canon Europe, to visit Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019. After a week long residency in Matera, this is some of the work that I created. I noticed Matera is very similar and yet also different than Valletta which was the Capital of Culture for 2018. Some clear similarities were the strong religious influences and the hanging laundry found all around.
Situated just off the piazza of Luqa, Malta, this house was one of the few houses that did not suffer any bombing during WWII. At present it is in a state of abandonment, however its been taken over for an architect for restoration.
Isla is one of the cities together with Bormla and Birgu that make up the Three Cities on the island of Malta. Situated along the coastline of the Grand Harbour, just across the bay from Birgu, Isla does not share the same commercial scene that Birgu does. On the other hand, Isla offers a unique take on a culture rich with narrative where religious icons, hanging laundry and people in balconies are the order of the day.
Isla offers tranquil town life with the added on excitement of the sea. It still boasts authentic residences, attired with the usual hanging laundry, children running in the streets, and the odd person looking out of the window savouring the Mediterranean sun. It is worth a visit during Festa season too so one can admire the virtuosity with which the locals decorate the streets and celebrate the town’s feast on the 8th of September.
Pieta is mainly situated on the coastline between Floriana and Msida. More often than not it is not given much importance since it is mainly a bypassed place due to its position. The old boat house with the arched doors is now a restaurant. The row of houses situated along Pieta's main road can't be seen properly because one either passes with his car, or when one walks on the opposite side, the view of the small port takes precedence over the row of houses. There are some beautiful houses which need preservation along this road. Some have taken this into their own hands and instead of preserving the facades, they simply built up something else which does not read well with the remaining of the street.
The main project here is to retain the authenticity of Pieta, rather than letting it become a mass of concrete blocks with no narrative. Through this documentary work, I wish to safeguard memories of how this place is or rather used to be.
