Going through my photos from Malta, I keep coming back to two statues. They couldn’t be more different, yet both strike a chord deep within me.
One is Les Gavroches in Valletta, a haunting piece by Antonio Sciortino, capturing three street kids, barefoot and ragged, inspired by Hugo’s Les Misérables. These are children left to fend for themselves, lost in a world that barely sees them. They look as if they’re ready to take on whatever life throws at them, together, yet on their own.
Then there’s the fisherman in Marsaxlokk. He’s coming home with the day’s catch, his kids and even the family cat is there, waiting for him like a part of the ritual. Marsaxlokk, with its fishing boats and cat shelters, honours family and tradition.
This statue is rooted in that sense of place, showing us what it means to belong—to know that someone will always be waiting for you.
These two pieces of art are worlds apart, yet both resonate in ways I can’t quite explain. One is about survival and grit; the other, about connection and care. Maybe that’s what keeps pulling me back: the reminder that family can mean different things, but the need for belonging, for resilience, is universal.
#MaltaMoments #LesGavroches #MarsaxlokkMemories #FamilyConnections #ArtThatSpeaks
