The Grand Harbour of Valletta: An Artistic Tribute

Malta’s Strategic and Artistic Significance

An island micro-state in the Mediterranean, Malta’s strategic geographical position has been envied worldwide for thousands of years. Grand Harbour is an integral part of the Mediterranean’s maritime history and a source of inspiration for many artists and authors.

The Grand Harbour: A Living Legacy

The Grand Harbour of Valletta, in Malta, represents a world unto itself. Generations of Maltese feel a deep connection to it through its rich history and the ongoing work of those who maintain it—dockers, stevedores, tugs, boilermakers, pilots, and captains. Unique due to its location at the crossroads of Mediterranean Sea routes—between Africa and Europe, as well as between East and West—it is full of anecdotes and invites exploration through its dreamlike, human, and poetic power.

Sylvie de Meurville’s Artistic Vision

For Sylvie de Meurville, rivers are a primary creative source. She draws parallels between the design of water and the ramifications of animal or plant life. Sylvie perceives water as a vital flow, with its movement evident in many fluids. Her artistic process involves extracting maps, lines, and pathways to create thread-like sculptural forms. The watercourses in her work mimic the networks of the human body, transforming the landscape into a body itself. Her river sculptures often appear to be standing, balancing, or dancing, highlighting the analogies between the flow of rivers and the human body.

(Credit: Leila Macaire, 2024)

Exploration of the Grand Harbour

Sylvie’s fascination with the Grand Harbour of Valletta led her to explore its contours. Despite Malta’s lack of a hydraulic network, the port’s shape is influenced by the sea and run-off water. When Sylvie mapped the port using depth curves (isobaths) from nautical charts, she was surprised to find an anthropomorphic presence emerging. By positioning the map vertically, with most isopleths at the port exit, an energetic presence resembling an opening towards the open sea was revealed. The steel plate cut-out transforms into a window onto the sea, a mise en abîme framing the landscape. The remaining portion of the cut-out, the positive of the Grand Harbour with its coves, appears suspended above the water, reaching towards the horizon.

The Artistic Installation at The Snop House

Installed at the entrance to The Snop House, this large, unique, and original sculpture reflects the arrival and departure of ships in the Grand Harbour. It gives rhythm to the flow of visitors and guests at this boutique hotel, where art is a constant invitation to curiosity. This artistic piece captures the magic and beauty of Valletta and the Three Cities, enriching the sensory experience of all who come to discover it.