Remember the scent of jasmine that used to fill the air in Msida’s Triq il-Kbira during summer evenings? Or the echo of your laughter bouncing off the walls of the old, now-abandoned cinema in Birkirkara? These are the memories that ‘Stories Revisited’, a new exhibition at the Malta National Museum of Fine Arts, is eager to evoke.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Curated by local artist and storyteller, Joseph Vella, ‘Stories Revisited’ is not just an art exhibition; it’s a nostalgic journey through Malta’s childhood landscapes. Vella, who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, has spent years collecting stories and memories from fellow Maltese, weaving them into a mix paintings, sculptures, and multimedia installations.

“I wanted to create a space where people could reconnect with their past, with the places and people that shaped them,” Vella explains. “Malta is changing so rapidly. I thought it was important to capture these memories before they fade away.”

From Mdina’s Silent Streets to the Vibrant Paceville

The exhibition takes visitors on a tour through Malta’s urban and rural landscapes, from the silent, cobbled streets of Mdina to the vibrant, neon-lit nights of Paceville. Each artwork is accompanied by an audio clip, a snippet of a story shared by a Maltese native, transporting you back to a time when life was simpler, slower.

One piece, a watercolor painting of a now-demolished apartment block in Ħamrun, is accompanied by the voice of an elderly woman recalling the communal life of the building’s residents. Another, a sculpture of a traditional Maltese balcony, tells the tale of a forbidden love that blossomed under the watchful eyes of the neighbors.

Preserving Malta’s Collective Memory

“This exhibition is not just about my memories,” Vella says. “It’s about everyone’s memories. It’s about preserving our collective memory, our collective story.” To that end, the exhibition encourages visitors to share their own stories, their own memories of growing up in Malta.

At the heart of the exhibition is a interactive installation, a digital map of Malta where visitors can pin their memories, their stories. “I want this to be a living, breathing thing,” Vella says. “I want it to grow and change with the people who visit it.”

‘Stories Revisited’ is more than just an art exhibition. It’s a testament to the power of memory, to the stories that shape us, that make us who we are. It’s a reminder that, even as Malta continues to evolve, to change, there are some things that remain constant, that remain true.

So, go ahead, lose yourself in the familiar streets of ‘Stories Revisited’. Let the memories wash over you. And then, share your own story. Because, after all, that’s what makes us Maltese.