Prickly Pear Cactus

Bajtra tax xewk / Nopal / Prickly Pear Cactus

This sculpture measures 40 cm wide by 45 cm long and weighs 3.2 kg. It is made from clay and cement. The piece is a personal interpretation of one of my favorite cacti: the nopal, also known as prickly pear, called in Malta Bajtra tax xewk.

The nopal was introduced to Malta after 1492, arriving through southern Europe following the spread of American plant species originating from Tenochtitlán and other regions of Mesoamerica. Over time, the cactus adapted remarkably well to the dry and rocky Maltese landscape.

Its importance became so significant that it was later incorporated into national symbols, including the Maltese emblem used between 1975 and 1988. The Maltese people also embraced the plant for its fruits, using them to produce liqueurs and jams, while the cactus itself served as a natural barrier and food source.

This work reflects the meeting of the ancient and new worlds, a botanical and cultural mestizaje that still survives today in the Mediterranean landscape.