A three-metre-high sculpture of a stray cat has been placed at the Ta' Qali National Park to promote contemporary art and creativity.

The unusual gesture is the initiative of sculptor Matthew Pandolfino.

He explained that he is invited all interested artists to use his sculpture as a blank canvas on which to draw up their own designs. They are being invited to submit their designs to matthewpandolfino.com and an artist would be selected every two months to decorate the sculpture in any way he wishes, as long as nothing is permanent.

The current designs are by Mr Pandolfino himself, and he has also scribbled a poem by Adrian Grima.

The project is being backed by the Malta Arts Council.