In Barcelona, one of the things I loved most was the fact that every few hundred metres you could see an abstract and artistic structure that livened up the place and gave it character. In Malta unfortunately we do not have such a tradition. Remember those prolonged debates about the infamous Love sign as if it were a mortal sin? We seem to be scared of such structures simply because they do not have a practical use.

The other day the Sliema car park at the Ferries was fenced off by helium-filled pink balloons blocking the entrance and livening up the scene, making an artistic statement against the land use of the area. In such a popular touristic area, full of shops and cafeterias, and backed by a beautiful scene of Valletta, this area has been turned into a big, dull car park with no sense of aesthetics and a lack of harmony with its surroundings.

The pink balloons were symbolic of what this place could be used for; perhaps something artistic, a park, or a recreational area. Pink represents the healthier alternative use we could have for such a decrepit area. The reaction from people was mainly confusion as they were unaware of what these balloons meant and unsure of whether they could enter the car park or not. Some drivers drove through the balloon structure to park their cars anyway, while others drove off thinking the car park was closed for the day.

Before any more reactions were possible, a cleaner came along and burst every single balloon, sweeping up the area and packing everything into a dustbin - a reaction which is perhaps only surprising because it was done with efficiency. This further emphasises the need for art to be taken more seriously in Malta and for aesthetics to be given consideration when an area is being developed.

The architecture students who conceptualised this temporary structure should be given credit for identifying an area which is starved of creativity and for going ahead with an intelligent and attention-seeking project knowing that it would have such a short lifespan.