Art installation against racial hatred expressed through Social Media.
Il-Qasma Soċjali highlights the extremist attitudes of some Maltese citizens towards immigration from North African countries into Malta. The artwork consists of a ceramic toilet, adorned with an array of colourful, hateful comments posted on Facebook by various Maltese users. Drawing inspiration from Marcel Duchamp’s sarcasm in Fountain, the concept was reimagined to critique contemporary Maltese politics.
The title Il-Qasma Soċjali translates to The Social Divide, yet it carries a dual meaning, referencing the vulgar Maltese term Qasma, which denotes bowel incontinence or a sudden urge to defecate. The artwork was signed as ARMAT, echoing Duchamp’s signature R. Mutt on Fountain. While the two names sound similar, ARMAT in Maltese translates to “equipped,” often colloquially referring to being armed with dangerous tools.
Il-Qasma Soċjali was part of a collective artistic effort by Darren Tanti, Chris Castillo, Keith Bonnici, and Pawlu Mizzi, under the pseudonym Nagħaġ (Sheep), for the 2013 Earth Garden Festival.
