Malta’s Favourite Snack Has Been Turned To Stone: Concrete Pastizzi Are Now Totally A Thing
Every single person who has ever been to Malta is familiar with pastizzi. They’re also probably completely in love with the ambrosial treat we hold in such a high esteem. But now, the diamond-shaped low-key symbol of our island has been given a new form… in the shape of wall art.
Perfectly poised to start taking over the country, The Pastizzi Project kicked off last night at Valletta’s Risette. For the next three months, the beautifully fancy restaurant in the capital will be housing some concrete pastizzi as part of an artistic installation created by local artist Kane Cali.
“Humorous satire forms the base of what I’m doing with the Pastizzi Project. building a simple narrative from the everyday and mundane, a considerable object we all know, one that is understood by all the country, possibly one that helps to describe it too,” Kane explained.
This Maltese national emblem has been chosen by Cali to bring an honest (albeit humorous) revision of identity throughout the island.
“The lesser known message is a reflective one on the state of contemporary local identity. The edible, now transformed through material no longer remains the cheap and cheerful savoury item we all know and love, but is transformed into a symbol,” he said.
The artist went for something which truly hones Maltese identity, even more than luzzi and eight-pointed crosses.
“I feel the pastizz has a lot to say about who and what contemporary Malta has become. After all we love it quick, we like it easy, cheap and with little fear of the consequences that may follow,” Cali said.
The mold for these inedible delicacies is created from actual pastizzi bought from a local pastizzeria. Cali’s pretty creations have been making their rounds on Instagram, amusing anyone who lays eyes on them.
Cali breaks away from the norm when it comes to his artistic creations, and these pastizzi are a clear example of this. He’s an artist who breaks down one’s thinking process and challenges social barriers through his art… and reminds us of some of our favourite snacks in the process.
Most of the work Cali does is a modernised form of the dadaist movement, and these concrete snacks are no exception.
“It only felt fitting to have an installation about the cheap and mundane within the walls of a high-end restaurant,” Cali said.
By placing such a piece in a commercial space, the installation which is currently being hosted at Risette seems to be a tongue-in-cheek attempt to pull society’s leg.
“The venue came to me through the eyes of Alexandra Pace, who is curating this initiative by Case Ellul,” he said.
This installation will hopefully spark conversations about who we are as a nation and our identity. If nothing else, here’s to Malta finally putting to rest the eternal debate of irkotta versus piżelli. Turns out that concrete was the winner after all.
What do you think of this installation? Leave us a comment below and tag someone who’d love a pastizzi wall!
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