It is estimated that 75 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. This lays the foundation of the premise for an exhibition currently on at St James Cavalier: the necessity to ensure that voices from city communities are heard in reflexive, expressive and observational forms.

One of the installations that has drawn particular attention is the Before I Die blackboard wall

The City Speaks, organised by the British Council and Islamic social empowerment NGO Maslaha, aims to show how cities have provided fertile ground for progressive thought and how art in all its forms can stimulate thought, enable the expression of emotion and change perspectives.

One of the exhibition’s installations that has drawn particular attention is a giant Before I Die blackboard wall, which invites passers-by to reflect on their life, express their hopes or epitomise their ambition in chalk.

Another such blackboard is positioned in front of the Law Courts in the capital.

The Before I Die concept began two years ago in New Orleans after Candy Chang converted a derelict building’s wall into a giant public blackboard. She conceived the notion after losing a close companion and subsequently reflected upon the meaning of her life. Since then 50 walls have been created in more than 20 countries.

“The City Speaks exhibition is about how creative expression enriches the urban environment,” said Ingrid Eomois, director of the British Council. “This is one of the British Council projects on urban regeneration leading up to 2018 when Valletta will be the European Capital of Culture.”

Also included are murals created for the Connecting Classrooms schools initiative, directed by artist James Micallef Grimaud and his team. The mural project was also supported by the Kreattiv scheme.

The exhibition runs at St James Cavalier until Sunday.

www.britishcouncil.org