Maltese Boats

 “Id-Dghajsa”

Maltese boats representing and symbolizing our country is a must for our geographical location surrounded by the sea, especially with our tradition of decorating our own way on almost everything we had/have in our culture. These boats used to be (and still are these days) commonly for fishing, but like most traditional subjects, this has become a service for tourist services like carrying them between Valletta, Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. We have a number of Vernacular boats in our island and all have an interesting name which also showcase our unique language with them. Including are “Luzzu, Kajjik, Dghajsa, Frejgatina, Firilla, Bimbu, Lanca, Lampara, Tal-Midalji.

By far, the most popular is the “Luzzu” which is boasts craftsmanship that requires great skill and high building precision. It is used by the fishermen due to their stability and durability compared to modern boats. Unbelievably, the “Luzzu” is more expensive than fiberglass boats. Without any doubt, the eyes are what give character, being the Eye of Osiris which comes from the Phoenicians as our boats are highly influenced by them. It is believed to protect them against evil, something which is common throughout Maltese vernacular design. It is used also as a general lucky charm to protect the fishermen when on the seas, this is still believed in the present as you see painters apply them to these boats. The “Luzzu” is most commonly seen in large amounts in Marsaxlokk, being the largest fishing village in Malta. Its title derives from the Sicilian word “Gozzo”, being a fishing boat common around its coasts. But, the most interesting part comes when the first consonant “g” is dropped and replaced with the “l”…this is due to its weakness in Sicilian.

Influenced by the Phoenicians is the use of the eyes, structure and partitions of the design. This easily happened as the Phoenicians used our islands due to its central geographical location. The colors Yellow, Blue, Red and Green are the main elements which never changed. These were used to indicate the home port, before the modern number registration was introduced.

Variations differ with size and extra compartments, making use for different uses and comfort among fishermen.

My personal view of the “Dghajsa” includes a strong reflection to our culture, especially with the vibrating vivid colors that represent our sunny weather and colorful citizen characters. Their craftsmanship clearly proves how much our fathers were dedicated to their passions and hobbies.

Resemblance with Egyptian and Victorian design is exposed with the eyes and design, also the shape. How the colors represent the country’s character and culture is an element which strongly goes hand in hand with both. 

Victorian design is represented on a part at the top on the brown strip. This is clear with the British colony on the Islands, also the involvement of the British commission for Princess Elizabeth’s boat to ferry her to the ship in Vittoriosa. Also a “Dghajsa tal-Midalja” was used when Prince William attended the 50^th Anniversary celebrations for Malta’s independence. The “Dghajsa tal-Midalja” was derived from the “Luzzu” with a variation in aesthetic and speed use. In modern days, they are used for the popular Regatta, being a race with these boats, only designed more for the event rather than the traditional ones.

It is inevitable to not make use of these boats in contemporary art. A Maltese artist makes use of the “Luzzu” design, only in a form of a WC we use normally. Its large scale in my view puts focus on artistic meaning, which does not seem to be mentioned by himself. From my point of imagination, this symbolizes how our modern minds are erasing and devaluing our own craftsmanship, culture and tradition. Our "Luzzu" inspires me to make use of traditional and vernacular designs in my work so as to cherish what we truly are passionate about, which is dedication to what you are made of and what made you who you are... your country and the people.

References:

Malta Bulb: A colourful Malta boat that will grab your attention!. 2015. The Luzzu: A colourful Malta boat that will grab your attention!. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.maltabulb.com/luzzu.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Malta Bulb: One of the most recognized Malta Tourist Attractions!. 2015.Malta Boats: One of the most recognized Malta Tourist Attractions!. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.maltabulb.com/malta_boats.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Stephanie Said: A Case-Study of a Maltese Traditional Boat | Stephanie Said - Academia.edu. 2015. The Firilla: A Case-Study of a Maltese Traditional Boat | Stephanie Said - Academia.edu. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.academia.edu/10074441/The_Firilla_A_Case-Study_of_a_Maltese_Traditional_Boat. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Vassallo History | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. Fishing in Malta | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at:https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/fishing-in-malta/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

 Sport in Malta | Boats used in Regatta. 2015. Boats used in Regatta. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sportinmalta.com/boats-used-in-regatta/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Joe Arevalo: Maltese Fishing Boat - Luzzu. 2015. Wünderkammer: Maltese Fishing Boat - Luzzu. [ONLINE] Available at:http://filforn.blogspot.com/2010/07/luzzu-maltese-fishing-boat-date-back-at.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Kirsti Newton - A History of the Maltese Gondola | Malta | Azure Blog. 2015.The Dgħajsa - A History of the Maltese Gondola | Malta | Azure Blog. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.azure.com.mt/azure-blog/the-dghajsa-history-of-the-maltese-gondola.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].