Jean Paul Sofia’s pilot uniform on display in exhibition on delayed justice

The uniform worn by Jean Paul Sofia during his training for a private pilot’s licence is among the artefacts on display at a new art exhibition that confronts long-standing cases of delayed justice.

Tabling Emotion, organised by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation and R Gallery in Sliema, presents seven cases of delayed justice.

The exhibition combines personal objects belonging to the victims with artworks created by socially engaged artists. It runs at R Gallery, Tigné Street, until August 29 and is curated by Andrew Borg Wirth.

“Tabling Emotion is a play on words of tabling a motion,” Borg Wirth said.

“The exhibition presents seven cases of delays in justice, all at different stages. We want to see fewer delays and more credible and concrete actions.”

While the exhibition is inherently political, it is deeply personal. Besides the artworks each victim’s story is told through an artefact tied to their life. 

“All of these objects take you straight to their personhood,” Borg Wirth said.

Among the most striking artefacts are the epaulettes and training shirt of Jean Paul Sofia. The 20-year-old was killed on December 3, 2023, when a building under construction collapsed while he was working on site. A criminal case into his death is ongoing against 5 people charged with involuntary homicide and a civil case is also under way.

His mother, Isabelle Bonnici, paid tribute to him in a social media post: “Though his wings were never given the chance to take flight, his spirit remains as boundless and bright as the sky he longed to conquer. His dream lives on in every breeze, every cloud, every whisper of the wind — a gentle reminder of a life full of promise, love, and unforgettable light.”

Also featured is the case of Johanna Boni, a ballet dancer who was killed by a truck while riding her motorcycle in Mosta in 2016. Her pointe shoes and motorbike keys are displayed. Her case took nearly a decade to conclude.

Matthew Bartolo, a 17-year-old passionate about photography, is remembered with a newspaper cutting showing a photo of his published in a local paper.  He died in a workplace accident involving a woodworking machine at Construct Furniture in 2015. A decade later, the family are still seeking justice.

Photos of Lino Cauchi as a young sportsman represent his life before he disappeared in the 1980s. His murder remains unsolved. In 2020, his family filed a constitutional case against the State for failing to protect him. They won the case more than 40 years after his disappearance.

Eleanor Walker is remembered through her drawings and photo albums. She was murdered in 2016. Her husband was charged with her murder, but a trial date has yet to be set. He remains out on bail.

Eleanor Walker's drawing. Photo: Borg Wirth

Brian Rosso, a marine biologist and dedicated Floriana FC supporter, is commemorated with a club tie and a microscope. He went missing in 2005. Two fishermen admitted to disposing of his body at sea but were acquitted because they were not informed of their right to remain silent. His family later won a constitutional case which confirmed police negligence. His body was never found.

The exhibition also includes artefacts belonging to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her bold jhumka earrings and ceramic bowls used for her Taste and Flair columns serve as reminders of both her journalistic and personal life. Caruana Galizia was murdered in 2017. While five men have been convicted in connection with her killing, full justice has yet to be achieved.

Borg Wirth said the exhibition is not intended to provide closure to families, but to ensure that victims’ stories remain visible and alive.

“Very often, these cases are treated just as a headline and a shock for a day or two and then they are buried with whatever is new. Not only do the families become forgotten, but these cases often do not cease to exist in public consciousness,” he said. He added that Jean Paul Sofia and Caruana Galizia are exceptions to the rule. 

Microscope to remember Brian Rosso. Photo: Borg Wirth

Describing the exhibition’s opening night as “emotional and beautiful,” Borg Wirth said families were invited to meet the artists before the public arrived. The show includes work by artists Adrian Abela, Bettina Hutschek, Sebastian Tanti Burlo, Gulja Holland, Joanna Demarco, Marlon Tabone and Sonia Lenzi.

Alongside the artefacts, each piece of art serves as a call to witness, reflect and demand justice and political accountability.

Tabling Emotion runs from July 24 to August 29 at R Gallery, 26, Tigné Street, Sliema. It was co-funded by the European Union.