Gozo has found itself inhabited by a curious new sea creature courtesy of Raphael Mizzi, who has been sculpting since 2012 at the Malta School of Arts.
Mizzi sculpted the life-size sea turtle at Ramla Bay, Gozo. He said that the sculpture took him fourteen hours across two days to complete, and that it is around 1.8 metres long. The life-size sculpture was made with materials that can be found directly at the beach. He explained that the clay model’s foundations are made with stones, and that drift wood was then used for supporting structures with seaweed as fillers.
He said: “I had a wonderful time crafting this sea turtle and the experience of connecting with Gozitans of all ages was truly heartwarming. We exchanged stories about turtles, and I was amazed to see some kids getting inspired and moulding their own small turtle sculptures with clay! Art has such a wonderful way of igniting creativity in everyone.”
This is not the first marine animal sculpture that Mizzi has made, as recently as a month ago in June 2023 he created a life-sized sculpture of a Mediterranean monk seal to highlight the species’ status as an endangered animal and to raise awareness of the situation.
He said that this piece was made to honour sea turtles, noting their beauty and their importance to the Mediterranean Sea, referring to them as awe-inspiring creatures. He said that whilst he has not yet been able to encounter sea turtles in their natural habitat yet, he is still holding on to hope that the encounter will happen someday.
He added that with the unveiling of this sculpture, he wishes for people to remember to cherish and protect our seas and the incredible marine life which depends on it. “It’s vital to preserve this precious environment for future generations to continue admiring its wonders. Together, we can make a positive impact.”
Turtles are known to occasionally nest on Maltese beaches to lay their eggs. If you ever come across an unsupervised turtle nest you should make sure to avoid trampling the nest and avoid shining lights at the nest or disturbing any turtles or eggs present.
Should you come across an unsupervised turtle nest, contact the Environment & Resources Authority on +356 2292 3500 or Nature Trust Malta on +356 2131 3150 and provide them with the relevant information.
Photo: Raphael Mizzi