ABSTRACT
The project Batman Gżirjan (loosely translated as “Batman from Gżira”) researched and articulated how rapid change in the coastal town of Gżira in Malta, and its seafront in particular, has affected its local inhabitants and their quality of life. The participatory arts project, led by artist Kristina Borg, invited local people to share their feelings – both positive and negative – around their town, and empowered them to express themselves publicly against the exploitation of their town for commercial interests. This chapter describes the contextual realities within which the project was produced, including local and national concerns around overdevelopment and an intense period of construction and commercialisation. It follows the research process carried out by the artist and the production of the project in close collaboration with its participants, who contributed actively to its development and to the final public performative work.
The public actions by the participants included putting up posters in their locality, petitioning local and national decision-makers and producing a public performative work which took place both on shore and on sea. This chapter also describes the innovative and improvised techniques used by the artist to keep in touch with participants during the time of COVID-19 restrictions, including sending handmade journal notebooks by post and encouraging the use of their mobile phones for photography and videography.
