In this piece, the thematic exploration delves into THE MATRI-ARCHIVE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, a curatorial theme of maltabiennale.art.

This piece explores the role of women as agents of change in the Mediterranean, a curatorial theme of maltabiennale.art. Featuring Mariele Zammit’s original a cappella Għana tal-Fatt, harmonized with the 12 members of KOR MALTA and under Karl Fiorini’s musical arrangements with Riccardo Bianchi conducting, it highlights women’s resilience. Zammit’s words, reflecting the essence of femininity and its enduring strength, are set against the backdrop of the Addolorata Cemetery, a place rich with the silenced voices of women historically overlooked by Mediterranean historiography.

Named after Santa Maria Addolorata, the cemetery, built between 1862 and 1868 on Tal-Ħorr hill (a Maltese moniker invoking notions of sincerity and untouched purity) serves as a somber setting that challenges narratives of erasure. This site, with its neo-Gothic design, marble and bronze effegies, and olive trees, contains military graves from both World Wars. The cemetery is marked by changes in language from Italian to English and more recently, Maltese, on the tombstones. The space subtly underscores the predominant commemoration of men.

The video pays homage to the Mediterranean’s matriarchal archive, foregrounding women’s pivotal roles in reshaping historical and cultural landscapes. It invites viewers to delve into the complexities of gender, history, and power, fostering an appreciation for women’s forgotten contributions to the Mediterranean’s cultural fabric.

Resonating with Foucault’s concept of heterotopia, this piece at the national cemetery embodies paradoxes of existence, serving as a mirror to societal attitudes towards life and death. It stands as lieu de mémoire, where marginalized memories can either be reclaimed or further lost, here offering a space of resistance against the embedded patriarchy.