Animating a static picture

Malta might only measure some 300 square kilometres, but the Catholic Church records state that there are over 350 churches scattered across the islands, meaning that there is slightly over one church per square kilometre.

These figures, however, do not take into consideration the high density of chapels populating the island's countryside and the village and town cores.

This fantastic phenomenon intrigues many Maltese and foreigners, but it has intrigued Eddie Aquilina of Miranda Publishers to such an extent that he is devoting five whole volumes to this very subject.

The first volume, The Historic Chapels of Malta and Gozo 360˚ which was only launched a couple of weeks ago, features 32 chapels out of a scheduled 280 which Mr Aquilina intends documenting. In fact, the amount of "material" as well as the interest/feedback he has been receiving ever since he commenced this painstaking project has been so great that he might have to extend the number of volumes. He also confessed that the chapels of Gozo might be tackled in a separate volume.

Although only 32 chapels have been selected to be included in this first volume - a choice which Mr Aquilina said was by no means an easy feat - there are over 60 images portraying the different aspects of these religious sanctuaries.

The exteriors and façades of the chapels feature prominently in the lush hardback, together with their surroundings; however the interiors, whether sparse and solitary or painfully ornate, are also given due space.

Mr Aquilina, however, is not content with simply featuring the chapels themselves - he wants to "paint" a complete picture, and for this he has made use of and been aided by a great number of people who bent over backwards to join him in this venture of animating an otherwise static image.

He relates how the process of delivering a successful shot often involves flying over his photographer Enrico Formica from Italy at a moment's notice to capture a religious celebration, or even applying for the relevant permits for a road to be partially closed for a few hours.

Besides this, village and town people have proven to be more than willing to collaborate with him and assist in the delivery of that one perfect shot which will make the final cut. Staging a scene often involves outsiders bringing along their pet donkey, or dressing up in costume for the sake of the right ambience.

Mr Aquilina feels he cannot thank all of these people enough for their assistance in making these images come to life. He has nothing but words of praise for their time and dedication which has resulted in the production of the first of a series of publications devoted to chapels in Malta.

A selection of the photographs published in this edition are currently on display at the Carmelite Priory Museum in Mdina. The exhibition is open till Sunday.