Migration and Heritage

Migration is an ancient phenomenon. It arises from various situations like climate, socio-economic, war, education, health and more. My focus is on the little island of Malta, where I grew up. Our culture is underpinned by its long history of colonisation. Through time, different influences have become interwoven into the fabric of Maltese heritage. Migration explores two Maltese uncannily similar intergenerational traditions; fishing and lacemaking. Fishermen, their fathers, sons, brothers and uncles would gather to make, as well as repair their nets, share stories and sing folk songs. Similarly their wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts would make intricate patterns in lace accompanied by stories and songs. I use repurposed materials which also carry their own story.

A large-scale interactive installation of ropes and banisters represent the linen threads and bobbins respectively. The only instruction given is to weave their way through it. A small-scale creative engagement between aunt and niece represents the intergenerational traditional craft of lacemaking which is a dying tradition.