Dioramas
The modern popular meaning of 'diorama' is given to a three-dimensional scale model or full-size replica of a particular known landscape, or showing some historical event, nature or cityscapes. The reasons behind them are normally for educational purposes, for exhibitions and for remembering old or demolished landscapes or buildings.
Modern museum dioramas can be seen in various museums especially those of natural history. The technique of dioramas is to use a tilted plane to represent what would otherwise be a level surface, a painted background of distant objects, and often employ false perspective, carefully modifying the scale of objects placed on the plane to reinforce the illusion through depth perception of viewing a larger space.
Careening Diorama
One of my few dioramas is to be found in the Malta Maritime Museum and depicts a scene of a galley being careened in the creek. The tools normally used, together with the great machinery, the galley on its side, the surrounding panorama together with the skilled workers busy with their designated work. This diorama depicts one of the skills in one of the creeks of the Grand Harbour which are today lost to us. The main aim of this diorama was to educate children and adults alike about the skills of careening and ship repairing.
The sheer legs or Macina Diorama
Large wooden sheer legs were placed on top of the fortifications of Senglea. The ship-of-the-line would go near the building locally known as il-Macina, and the workers would remove the masts and the cannons with their carriages. Then the ship, especially during winter, would go deeper into the Creek with less weight and draught. Another use of the sheer legs was to remove or replace the provisions and munitions. The task would be easier using the big wooden legs.
This diorama like the previous one shows this building as is known in history. Although this building still exists today, the wooden sheer legs do not exist anymore. During the British period, the wooden sheer legs were supplanted with iron ones and then later on removed altogether.
Customs House Diorama
As a private work, I was asked to create a diorama for the Malta Department of Customs of the Customs House itself. It was a three-dimensional model and great care was taken to details of the building itself.