‘Midwal’: Shedding light on cultural memory

“Shall into Future fuse the Past,

And the world’s flowing fates in his own mould recast”

(from Culture by Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The Maltese village of Santa Luċija possesses a dialectically distinctive cultural fabric woven through centuries of history, traditions and local narratives. As urbanisation and modernisation continue to reshape the landscape of Malta, there is an increasing need to safeguard and promote communities’ invaluable heritage.

The Midwal project responds to this need by serving as a platform for residents to learn from and contribute to the community through engagement with Santa Luċija’s cultural past.

The project stands as a significant community-driven project dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich cultural and historical heritage of the area.

Funded by the Malta Arts Council, this creative initiative, spearheaded by artists Roderick Camilleri and Katel Delia, is weaving together the memories and creative expressions of its past and present community members to build a unique and vibrant artistic archive.

The archive will function as a dynamic record of the community’s collective memory.

The project aims to foster a sense of shared identity and spirit by actively involving local citizens in the creation of a comprehensive creative archive that documents the unique character of Santa Luċija. The objective is to empower the local population to become active custodians of their history.

To further understand and appreciate the trajectories of this initiative, one has first comprehend the significance of its name. Midwal, is a diminutive word in Maltese which loosely translates to “illumination” or else “a small opening or aperture to let light in”.

It is an important word in an age of ever-growing conflicts and wars, providing a beacon of light and hope. In a time of cultural obscurity and dissolution, Midwal becomes a poignant word that aptly reflects the project’s goal: to shed light on the often-overlooked stories and cultural heritage of Santa Luċija.

At its heart, the initiative promotes intergenerational collaboration by uniting the enthusiasm and fresh ideas of youth from the Right to Smile NGO with the insights and lived experiences of seniors from the Active Ageing Group. This vibrant symbiotic exchange serves as the foundation of the archive, ensuring a diverse and inclusive portrayal of Santa Luċija’s identity.

The initiative promotes intergenerational collaboration

Furthermore, the project extends its influence into the local educational sphere by actively engaging students from Santa Luċija Secondary School and Tarxien Middle School. This involvement not only enables young people to forge a deeper connection with their local heritage but also helps them develop valuable research, storytelling and artistic skills.

The final archive will serve as a source of inspiration for creating various artistic works, including visual arts, storytelling and digital media. Consequently, the archive will function as a dynamic record of the community’s collective memory, expressed through their distinctive creative perspectives, marrying the past with the present.

The culmination of this project will be a public exhibition in Santa Luċija, showcasing the community’s participation and artistic content created during the workshops. This event will provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to experience the rich layers of this project. It will be a moment of shared pride, celebrating Santa Luċija’s unique history and identity, as well as the strong connections developed through the Midwal initiative.

By exploring cultural memory, Midwal will demonstrate how communities remember significant events, celebrate their heritage and maintain continuity amid change.

Some of the items in the pop-up exhibition.

This process often involves the formation of oral histories, rituals, art and monuments that serve as tangible links to the past. Illuminating cultural memory helps foster a deeper appreciation of local heritage, promoting understanding, and ensuring that valuable traditions are not forgotten but passed on to future generations.

Midwal exemplifies the impact of community-led efforts in preserving and honouring local cultural heritage. By re-rooting and re-membering society back to its cultural soil, Camilleri and Delia are not only building an archive but also nurturing a greater sense of belonging, understanding and appreciation for Santa Luċija’s distinctive character.

This project aims to highlight the essence of this community, ensuring its stories are preserved and appreciated for future generations. Midwal promises to serve as a model for similar initiatives across the Maltese islands, demonstrating the power of collective effort in fostering Malta’s cultural preservation, while making sure that “into the Future [shall] fuse the Past”.

There is currently a pop-up exhibition at the Garden of Serenity in Santa Luċija until August 10.