Malta’s Nostalgic Past: ‘Stories Revisited’ Exhibition

Remember the days when the scent of fresh bread from the bakery on Strait Street was enough to make your morning? Or when the clanging of church bells signalled it was time to head home for lunch? These are the memories that ‘Stories Revisited’, a new exhibition at the Malta National Museum of Archaeology, is bringing back to life.

‘Stories Revisited’ is not just an exhibition; it’s a journey back in time, a walk through the streets of Malta as they were decades ago. Curated by local historian and author Mario Bugeja, the exhibition is a treasure trove of artifacts, photographs, and personal stories that paint a vivid picture of growing up in Malta in the mid-20th century.

Take, for instance, the humble cigarette wrapper. It might seem like an odd exhibit, but in the hands of Bugeja, it becomes a time capsule. “Each wrapper tells a story,” he explains, “of a time when people could afford a luxury like cigarettes, of a time when smoking was a social activity, not a solitary one.”

The exhibition is a stark reminder of how much Malta has changed. Strait Street, once the bustling heart of Malta’s nightlife, is now a quiet, gentrified area. St. Julian’s, once a small fishing village, is now a bustling tourist hub. But ‘Stories Revisited’ isn’t just about the past; it’s also about the present and the future.

“We’re not just preserving history here,” says Bugeja, “we’re also preserving a sense of identity. As Malta continues to evolve, it’s important to remember where we came from.”

The exhibition also serves as a reminder of the importance of oral history. Many of the stories in the exhibition come from interviews with Maltese seniors, their memories preserved for future generations.

‘Stories Revisited’ is more than just an exhibition; it’s a call to action. It’s a call to preserve our history, to record our stories, to pass on our memories to future generations. It’s a call to appreciate the past, understand the present, and shape the future.

As Bugeja puts it, “History isn’t just something that happened in the past. It’s something that’s happening right now, every day. It’s our responsibility to record it, to preserve it, to learn from it.”