MALTESE CULTURE AND FOLKLORE Daniel Borg and Lara Marie Bonanno

GIRNA

Girna Can be found in the countryside Shape can vary in shapes Some have a second level Roofs are good for drying tomatoes, figs and carobs Some have stairs that lead to the roof First used in 1900s They where homes for farmers The architect Richard England, who built the church took his inspiration from the "girna The architect Richard England, who built the church took his inspiration from the girna

Girna sketch made by Daniel Studying formal elements and trying to create that 3D and realistic effect

Huts in Africa In Africa he Bantu and the Zulu tribes lived in houses shaped as a beehive Huts in Egypt where built in the shape of a beehive in memory of a chest that contained relics of Osiris. The beehive was one of Osiris’s symbols which represented mankind’s wisdom

LUZZU Symbol of Malta Word Luzzu came from Guzzo Used to be fishing boat Seen in St. Paul’s Bay, Marsaxlokk & Zurrieq Tunnara Museum found in Mellieha Fish traps, nets and anything assosiated with the sea Colours rarely changes Maltese money Protect people on sea – Eye of Osiris

Katsushika Hokusai Japanese painting Longer in size Greek boats Different colours Acrylic Painting

THE MALTESE CLOCK

The Maltese Clock Have been used in houses since the 17 th century Made of wood and layers of gypsum Later engraved and gold is added. The case of the clock had two doors. On the inside door was a hand painted dial, that could be fixed from the back

Japanese Clocks Originated on the early Edo Period They rotate once every day whilst the indicator remains in the same place It had to be adjusted twice a day to match the season. Advanced design Simpler with a basic shape There are no numbers on the clock Works with LEDs that show the hands of the clock.

Ghodda Antiki Used in the 19 th Century Used in World War II Handmade baskets Threshing (Dris) – Oxen’s Sickle (Mingel) – Harvesting Crops

African sickle Winnowing Fork Grain Scoop Egyptian Sickle

MALTESE BALCONIES

Maltese Balconies Define the character of Malta’s urban landscapes. When light hits these balconies it creates a chiaroscuro effect on the Maltese stone walls. There are two types of traditional Maltese balconies, the open type which are made of stone or iron and then there are closed wooden ones. The oldest type of balconies in Malta are the open stone ones and are the most common in the older parts of the island like Mdina. Valletta also had stone balconies but where changed into closed wooden ones.

Maltese Balconies Wooden balconies where first being used in Valletta I during the mid-eighteenth century and increased in popularity and where very fashionable..These type of balconies originated from North Africa and Morocco and the prototypes originated from Arabic Muxrabija.

Balconies in Egypt The Egyptian balconies are very similar in shape and size but Maltese balconies are more confined and the Egyptian balconies are more open. They are very symmetrical like the Maltese balconies but the Egyptian balconies have more patterns.

Modern Maltese Balconies

Maltese Transport Thorneycroft buses from UK World War II – Ford V8 Chassis Bus body builder Colour coded in 3 groups Interior of the buses Key chains

Kept by owners Weddings Tourists Tberfil Art & Craft lettering Trucks, horse-drawn, horse riding carriages Baroque line Illuminate manuscript

Italy & London Bendy buses Double deckers 20 th century 1960’s

TRADITIONAL MALTESE INSTRUMENTS

The traditional Maltese instruments date to the 16 th century and where used for the Maltese Ghana. The Cuqlajta was an instrument that associated with the Holy Week It comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes which each have their own sound. A particular type of cuqlajta that has existed since the Roman times can be seen in folk bands mostly in Gozo.

Il -Qarn Il-Qarn or the Horn have been protective objects of the Maltese islands for a very long time they were put on the doors of farm houses to protect the families that lived there from the ‘evil eye’ Cattle horns were also used as instruments when blown through. Horns were mostly associated with Carnival. Vuvuzela

Iz-Zaqq The bagpipe in Malta is known as iz-zaqq It is familiar with the Greek tsambouna It is made out of animal skin mostly a premature born calf, dog or goat All of the skin is used including all four legs and the tail The chanter is made up of two pipes, one of them has five finger holes and the other one has one. Bagpipe Bulgarian

L-insig ( Maltese Weaving) 1000 years ago Natural materials Clothing, rugs and blankets Weaving machine Phoenicians Antoine Vella Produce things Mixed materials

Dry seasons Brighter colours Shapes & patterns Geometric

Maltese Art

Fishing boats in Vecca St Paul's bay in blue Coloured inks mixed media on paper size 30x40cm In this painting the artist is showing the culture and the traditional Maltese boat by using visible outlines and bright colours. The composition is showing the typical Maltese life on the sea. In the painting you can see very intense shadows that are making the painting more lifelike.

Piet Mondrian composition with red blue black yellow and gray The village colours. Acrylics on canvas size 32x42cm 2012 The artist combined two types of styles. He is showing a Maltese church with and abstract composition. It is evident that he is influenced by Piet Mondrian’s composition with red, blue, black, yellow and grey. He simplifies these shapes and colours to obtain and reach his own type of art.

Henri Matisse, Open Window, Collioure, 1905,National Maltese village snd sleeping lady and Fishing village sunrise These two paintings are showing Maltese culture and lifestyle but in a simplified and abstract form. It is possible that the artist was inspired by Henri Matisse, since Matisse painted things like a child would. One can also notice that Bonello is using the same style and tones in his work by simplifying forms and shapes using bright colours without blending, and thick outlines.