Hunting was essential for man’s survival. It has also, for centuries, been considered a hobby.

Historically, it has been intimately associated with the idea of a sport for rulers, emperors and nobles and due to its environs, Verdala Palace was turned into a hunting lodge by Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle in the late 16th century.

More than 8,000 spent shotgun cartridges were removed and collected from the countryside. They make up Trevor Borg’s Crossfire artistic installation that is directly related to the upcoming referendum on spring hunting.

The cartridges have been arranged on the floor of the Terrace Hall at St James Cavalier to form a Maltese Cross, thereby becoming another reference to a further aspect of Maltese history and culture.

Such cartridges hold different meanings for different people. They can be the symbol of a pastime, or a conquest. They can be symbols of massacre, of the death of innocent creatures, symbols of man’s obtrusive mark on nature.

This installation is the only artistic expression related to the upcoming referendum. Borg’s idea is simple, yet effective.

As with most installations, it is the concept and not the execution that is here important. Borg is a capable and talented painter who has, in the last years, ventured into installation art.

This installation is the only artistic expression related to the referendum

Borg is silently seeking to create a discussion on nature and culture and does not intend to take sides on this topical debate. Both the Yes and No campaigns will find an allegiance to this installation.

Both the Maltese Cross and hunting are intrinsic elements of local culture and can be seen to create a strange dichotomy, one, however, that presents such a real situation. It presents us with questions about Malta’s cultural identity.

Whatever your opinion on the matter, several arguments have been caught up in the crossfire that the referendum campaign has insofar been.

Crossfire is the key word here. It also refers to birds that are being fired at from more than one direction, the same with the arguments that are intrinsic to the upcoming referendum and the supporters from the two opposing sides of the campaign. As it is, the destiny of birds is also held in a political crossfire.

The installation is in itself open-ended. The lack of literature allows viewers to form their own opinion about the installation’s meaning and the artist’s bias. Its significance is open to interpretation.

Whatever discussion it may arouse, one can safely say that it has been beneficial in remov-ing 8,000 cartridges that had previously littered the countryside.

Crossfire is open until Thursday at the Terrace Hall, St James Cavalier, Valletta.