Copyright timesofmalta
The art exhibition Homo Melitensis: (Still) An Incomplete Inventory in 19 Chapters, currently showing at MUŻA and curated by Bettina Hutschek and Raphael Vella, is a contemporary exploration of Maltese identity across time and generations. It combines the work of 13 artists. The exhibition draws from Malta’s history, culture and imagination, inviting visitors to reflect on what it means to be Maltese, or perhaps what it once meant. Walking through the gallery, certain objects feel as though they have emerged straight from a grandmother’s chest of drawers. Others confront us with stark reminders of unresolved societal issues, such as representations of historical injustices and social inequities. Others remind us of certain political issues which we tend to try and forget. This one is particularly portrayed playfully – a satirical cartoon of Norman Lowell. However, not all artworks are light-hearted. Some confront serious themes, highlighting moments when, as a country, we could have done more and showing how past wrongdoings continue to resonate today. What makes the exhibition especially clever is that it speaks to everyone. While Maltese visitors might experience a sense of nostalgia, foreigners are offered an insightful glimpse into the Maltese ways through an artistic form. Beyond celebrating elements of our identity, the exhibition also confronts moments in our history that we might prefer to forget, reminding us that the past cannot simply be erased. But rather it serves as a guide to act more thoughtfully and avoid repeating previous mistakes. Running until November 2 at MUŻA, Homo Melitensis is free to visit.
