As a child, did you ever have your ice cream slip off its cone onto the pavement? Nathan Portelli’s debut solo exhibition, ‘Id-Diżappunt’ (The Disappointment), opening at Mqabba’s Kamra ta’ Fuq on Friday 28th March at 7.30 PM, takes such childhood heartbreaks and transforms them into powerful metaphors for adulthood’s greater letdowns. But this isn't just about melting treats – his exhibition digs deeper into the melting identity of a nation.

Hailing from Gozo, Nathan has witnessed firsthand the relentless pace of urbanisation, where overdevelopment threatens not only Malta’s natural beauty but also its architectural heritage and village charm. Through his work, he invites us to take a hard look at what’s slipping through our fingers.

Cement takes centre stage as his medium of choice – a deliberate nod to the material reshaping Malta’s skyline, for better or worse. Playful yet striking, his sculptures depict ice cream cones in mid-collapse, ‘ġbejniet’ (Maltese cheeselets) either perfectly placed or shattered, and bursts of colour reminiscent of traditional fireworks. Each piece is a nostalgic yet urgent call to reflect on what we’re losing.

With a clever, tongue-in-cheek approach, Nathan Portelli urges us to pause and reconsider our priorities, before we’re left with nothing but disappointment. The exhibition is curated by Melanie Erixon, and will be on display between Friday 28th March and Sunday 13th April.

When was the last time you experienced such disappointment?