Malta’s character is very colourful: there’s something to love and hate about all those things that define it. Whether we look at the aesthetics, the traditions, the weather, the people’s behaviour… some characteristics create a fuzzy warmth in the heart while others feel more like a pang.
A little while ago, we had met local artist David Kostap, whose creative use of cartoons juxtaposed against traditional seasons give a real sense of Malta's unique character. Since then, he's really developed the unique art form, creating art about Malta emphasising “the beauty, romance and appreciation of Maltese islands... where other pieces are filled with darker notes of irony and sarcasm.”
See for yourself and tell us what you think - is this the Malta you know and love?
What speaks Maltese character louder than the traditional Maltese balcony?
There’s also the Maltese wooden window shutter
And the potted plants embellishing the street
There’s the village bar, where you can catch up with all the latest gossip...
And the quaint police station and the red British telephone booth…
And the beautiful house next door that was knocked down to build a block of apartments
There’s the Karozzin, the traditional Maltese horse and carriage
And lest we forget the vegetable truck, still going strong in many Maltese villages
Don't cross a feisty Maltese woman, whose spirit is not to be underestimated
Also deserving a mention are the Maltese cats, an intrinsic part of the Maltese landscape
Just as boats are an intrinsic part of the seascape
If some things don’t change, one’s the annual season of rows of near-naked bodies baking in the summer sun
And evening strolls along the seaside esplanade
Get ready for the all-time classic: the neighbours who move their home onto the pavement, TV and all, to escape the stifling evening heat in summer
Come winter, we see roads become rivers after a storm
There’s never a dull moment
Amble around Malta and you never know what precious Maltese feature you might stumble upon
What next?