Laurence Hili is one of the most modest men you could hope to meet, but he swells with pride when he talks about his grandson, nine-year-old Jeremiah Spiteri.

The child is the youngest artist to join the team at Domus Pius IX in Cospicua, which is once again drawing in the crowds to admire their unique Holy Week creations made from coloured salt, rice and pasta.

This year, Mr Hili, who has been one of the artists for over 50 years, recreated one of his ‘paintings’ from then, to show just how much more refined the techniques and materials have become.

Although the basic salt and rice have obviously not changed, the range of powder paints available has increased dramatically – as can be seen from the stunning details in the plated portraits.

This year’s theme is the Way of the Cross, based on the Żabbar work of art, and the highlight of the display is undoubtedly the stunning crucifix, which has been done entirely in pure white salt, using different depths of salt on a backlit piece of glass to create the contours of Jesus on the cross.

Mr Hili, now 68, reluctantly admits that it was his work, but is quick to point out other mini-masterpieces by the other nine members of the team, who are guided by artistic director David Cioffi (who also started as a seven-year-old).

“We start just after Christmas, planning the theme and what each person will be doing. The problem is that we cannot do the work too long in advance as it tends to spoil, especially the salt,” Mr Hili says.

In the workshop upstairs, which has dehumidifiers going constantly, Mr Cioffi pulled out a plate from a cupboard that had been done for the much-smaller Christmas crib display also held there. He plunged his thumb through it to show how the damp had formed a crust over the surface, which had already become pocked by white clumps.

“The humidity is our enemy,” Mr Hili admits. “When it is ‘riħ isfel’ – the southerly scirocco wind – the salt sticks to the spoon and you can’t work. There are times when I work through the night because the weather is favourable.”

The exhibition on Matty Grima Street is open on Good Friday from 8am to 11pm, on Holy Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 5pm to 9.30pm, and on Easter Sunday from 9.30am till noon.