Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535025
11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 MAY 2025 Rocks complex repossessed by the community He tells me that he originally started paint- ing the mural before a festival was even planned in the area. "They were organising a festival, so I told them about this place," he says. "I showed it to them, and they liked it." Micallef Grimaud says he saw the building as a canvas. "It's falling to bits, but it's got character," he says. "And it's actually a nice spot, when I was fixing the mural, grand- parents came with their grandkids. It's ed- ucational." Twitch has restored the mural over the years, covering up vandalism, stating that he continues to fix the mural as people stop and talk about it. When I ask about the second mural, Twitch confirms it was painted by Mark Taylor. "The mural shows a woman hold- ing an apple shaped like the Earth. It's about greed; the same subject as mine." He adds: "She's eating the world. The ap- ple is the Earth. It's very relevant to now." On the street art scene in Malta, Micallef Grimaud sees potential, but also a need for understanding. "There's a difference be- tween graffiti and murals," he insists. "Graf- fiti can be beautiful, or it can be bad. You can't generalise. It's like driving; you can do it right, or you can be reckless." He believes more public art is needed to offset what he calls "visual pollution." "There are buildings everywhere; no plan- ning. It's all concrete. That's visual pollu- tion," he tells me, making a case for more creativity in the streets. The White Rocks complex was once abandoned, but now it's full of street art. Twitch's mural is one of the better-known ones. The area is now a mix of colourful graffiti and murals, some beautiful, some bold; all inviting people to walk around, think, and explore. The potential of repurpose White Rocks is a living art gallery and even though big development plans never happened; the area has taken on a new life. People now use the space in their own ways. I saw youngsters skating, others jogging, some exploring, and others simply spend- ing time outdoors. Pembroke Mayor Kaylon Zammit believes the site has potential. "It can be repurposed in so many ways," he says when I contact him. "It's a huge area and it's a waste if it's not reused." While there have been no formal talks with the authorities, Zammit says the council would be open to discussing and proposing ideas for how the space can be used. "If as a council we can actually put forward ideas on how the area can be re- used, it would be a good idea." The buildings may be crumbling, but there's still a strong feeling of life and cre- ativity. The murals speak for themselves, and they've turned the space into more than just a forgotten project but a conver- sation. After all, White Rocks has found a new purpose through the community that keeps coming back. Mark Taylor Mural The Architecture of Richard England 1964-84