Playing cards, created artistically, beautifully and with much thought on what goes where and why.....Shuffling this complex deck of cards may be a rapid and simple play of hands, but going through the story of how its creation came about, certainly is not. The Republic of Malta Playing Arts (2015) deck of cards started off on the initiative of one enterprising woman.  I meet her to find out more.

"Early this year, in the beginning of January, I discovered the existence of Playing Arts cards - a project that sees the collaboration of a number of young designers and illustrators from around the world who express an imaginative and personalised artistic version of a playing card. I was quite bowled over by the beauty of these cards and spontaneously posted about them on Facebook, commenting that I wished I could buy such a set, but a Maltese set."

Dr Margit Waas who has now been living in Malta for eight years was henceforth bombarded with comments and responses from friends based in Malta, all of whom encouraged her to take up the idea and have a Malta deck of cards created.  The idea titillated her so much that she took it upon herself to try and do something about it.

As she shows me a pack of cards from the lot which were shipped in from the printers in September, it is very evident that she has succeeded in her intent. Each pack includes 52 playing cards - artistically depicted Kings, Queens, Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs  and spades, plus two Jokers, the all involving over 60 artists, who were engaged to create each individual card, the back of the cards, plus the front, back and flap of the box.  Each pack can be accompanied by a handmade pouch in the national colours, a poster of all the card images, and a detailed walk-through guide and compendium which includes a carousel of images of all the people involved in the project.  

"This was a massive task which I took on, not quite knowing what I had gotten myself in for.  But it was exciting from the word go. First of all I started to source artists and artisans whose works were diverse, innovative, and pertaining to very different art forms. I wanted to create something meaningful and cohesive, which would give a homogeneous idea of the wider breadth of Malta as an island nation, as a culture, and as a society. I sought out all sorts of artists - scrap artists, glassmakers,   filigree makers, salt artists, graphic artists and several others. Each card tells a different story and is described in detail in the guide book."

The pack of cards starts off with an image created by a salt artist, opening a door to sand and sea, and ends with an image of glass art - a by-product of salt.   Every detail has a unique significance which was important for Margit, who is a widely travelled person and a professor of applied linguistics. "I wanted to create a colourful kaleidoscope, which would provide a wide insight to Malta. As an editor of this creation, I wanted to have a good visual opening introduction, followed by crescendo of images and a grand finale to wrap it neatly up.  Virtually starting off with a 'Merħba' and ending off with a 'Saħħa'."

Ironically enough, Margit is not a card player, but admits she has learnt a great deal about cards since the inception of this project. In reality her aim has been primarily to create a portable art museum of Malta. "Here in Malta, there is no museum of contemporary art, which is a pity. Hence the idea behind this deck of cards also links in with the idea of having a collection of local contemporary art in one's pocket. I sought to have the cards printed by the prestigious company Piatnik of Vienna, Austria, a company which has been appreciated for its optimum card printing since 1824."

The proceeds from the sales of the cards are going to Happy Paws, a charitable organisation which works for the well-being of stray animals and for which Margit herself volunteers. This non-profitable organisation works on a daily basis to neuter and spay stray cats and dogs, apart from providing emergency veterinary care for injured and sick strays.  The cards are already being sold at the Happy Paws Animal Clinic in Marsa and the Happy Paws Charity Shops and Book-Tiques located in Marsascala and Hamrun. The cards will soon be distributed to souvenir and gift shops, in time for Christmas gift shopping.