This street photography project gives a voice to Malta & Gozo’s 'man on the street'
Maltese and Gozitan people are a special breed. We are warm. We are funny. Some of us religious and most of us lovers of food; especially pastizzi. We love our families and we want to share our stories. And Stephen Buhagiar and Roderick Vella are on a mission to give our people their 15 minutes of fame.
The People of Malta is a local play on the US project, Humans of New York and aims to capture the essence of being Maltese. This street photography project is focused on “preserving Maltese traditions and trade, language and culture as well as personal stories shared from the heart of our very own local citizens,” shared the duo behind the shots displayed on Facebook and Instagram.
These portrait shots are accompanied by quotes or messages that most struck the interviewers during their brief chat with the locals. But of course, a picture speaks a thousand words, and as Henry Cartier-Bresson once said; “Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again” - a quote that Stephen and Roderick find rather touching, especially since they happen to meet many older characters along the way.
Their mission is to depict the true meaning of being Maltese by featuring locals from Malta and Gozo in their daily routine; in the countryside, by the sea and even carrying out traditional and cultural matters. “Moreover, we give importance to the Maltese language and try not to paraphrase words told by those who we encounter,” explain the authors as they express their huge admiration for the Maltese language and their subjects’ opinions.
Stephen and Roderick have met so many people in the three and a half years they’ve been working on the project that they’ve made many new friends and have been moved by their individual stories, but there are always a few who pull at the heart strings even more, striking a chord and making an impact on their lives.
“It’s not easy to choose one person from the hundreds we have met. We will not do anyone justice if we had to outline one character - we feel so lucky to have encountered and still encounter locals who are ready to share their story, reveal personal narratives, show their interesting and unique talents and tell us stories from their past or present situations.”
“But we will never forget meeting Ġorġ Spiteri from Żebbuġ Gozo, who, at the age of 101, was the oldest person we met and interviewed,” shares Stephen. Roderick continues, “two days after our meeting, his family informed us that Ġorġ had passed away. Ours was actually the last photo ever taken of him.”
They continue to share stories, adding “we can't forget the time we spotted an elderly man returning to his Żabbar home, where he was greeted by his wife at the door. They invited us in and wanted to give us some tea or coffee. This couple had been married for nearly 60 years, after meeting through a matchmaker.”
There are tonnes of others on their list, some with happy stories and other with their fair share of sorrow, but nevertheless, all Maltese champions in every way. 2019 will not only bring more of these touching anecdotes, but they also have a few surprises up their sleeves; some we will sadly have to patiently wait for... so it better be good!