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GOZOTODAY 1 November 2024

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11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 1 NOVEMBER 2024 CULTURE A new Heritage Malta installa- tion in MUŻA in Valletta, a gi- ant 'rubble wall'-cum-street, in- cludes 72 tiny shop fronts from Gozo. The installation has been pains- takingly constructed from 1,000 bone-china shops piled like apartments on breeze blocks and golden stone to mimic a Maltese street. Each of these shops – which range up to 12.5 x 12.5 x 3.5 cm In size, has been individually cre- ated by UK-based artist Barnaby Barford who, over the last two years, has cycled through all the towns and villages on the island taking thousands of photos of shops across the island. "Shops are the wallpaper of our streets," he says, pointing out that we often don't realise their value until they are gone. Barford then amalgamated his photos of each location, remov- ing cars and people from the views, and created ceramic trans- fers which were put onto the chi- na blocks. He also added other local details onto the shops' sides – icons, signposts, graffiti and details from the mosaic on the Ta Pinu parvis. They were then fired and glazed multiple times to make them durable. Each shop is different, an em- bodiment of the narratives of a family and a community, of hope, hard work and resilience, of soci- ety and culture. Each is a piece of today that will become a record of our heritage in years to come. For the viewer, it's a pleasure to walk along the walls, looking for familiar Gozo shop fronts. It's al- so 'Where's Wally' entertainment to choose a shop that you are sure is included and try and find it. You could be there for hours. The exhibition also includes vid- eo footage of Barnaby's thoughts and process as he worked on the project, and an interview with people who own or run several of the shops, including Victoria's Bookworm. Accessed via the MUŻA shop, the installation is available to see, for free, until 19th January. You can see all the shops and fil- ter by town at https://topia.herit- agemalta.mt/shop The shops In Victoria, 37 shops includ- ing Bargate Bookstore, Gozo Antiques, Peter's Fish Shop and Marks and Spencers In Gharb, Ta Saif, Ta Pinu Phar- macy and the now closed Lick-a- Licious In Ghajnsielem, Attard Au- to-dealer, De Bono's Bakery, Ideal Store and J A Borg Service Station In Marsalforn, Nautic Dive, Ta Dirjanu and Tony's Pharmacy In Munxar, Is-Sapuniera In Nadur, eight shops including Ta Pulitu, J Camilleri – Heirloom Furniture and Vogue In Qala, St Joseph - Pharmacy and Sunny Island – Mini Market In San Lawrenz, Simpatica – Central Store In Xaghra, six shops includ- ing Jimmy Muscat The Butcher, Ta'Haqqu and Lighthouse In Xewkija, seven shops includ- ing Pawlu's, Ta'Siminu Bakery and Tropical Forest 72 Gozo shops immortalised in bone-china Barford signing shops

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