Not much is known about Mateo, aka MTO, who created the giant mural seen on this car park wall in Sliema. He keeps his location and his plans private, but his work is worth a close look.
MTO was born and spent his early years and France, before spending about 7 years in Berlin, which he left in 2013. He now lives in ” ‘Nowhere’, Planet Earth”. Much of his work consists of large scale, photo-realistic works, often grey scaled portraits with a red outline or a splash of red. This choice of style is due to the influence of his father, a keen photographer – black and white photos and the red light of a dark room have had their impact on this street artist.
It is clear to the viewer that he works hard to make his murals reflect the town or country in which he is working, and there is usually a political message behind his art. This man escaping the car park in Malta, is escaping into a tunnel, it turns out. The work is called “The Mediterranean Tunnel” and refers to the reported unwillingness of Malta to accept immigrants.
It is an unusual work, as it comes in two parts: the guy climbing into the tunnel has a long path to follow, as he does not emerge until he reaches Sapri, about 700 kilometres away, in Italy. I would love to see his exit in person, but for now I can only show you the image here.
The car park in Sliema is now a building site – for what, I don’t know – and my presence with camera wasn’t welcomed. Let’s hope the mural is not going to be hidden.
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 6 May 2019
Enjoying street art has become a regular event on my travels around the world: more of my findings can be seen here
For even more art, pop over to see Sami at Monday Mural
Travel with Intent 
Hi Debbie. Nice post. I recommend Lodz in Poland to you (pronounced ‘Wutch’) They have an international grattitti festival each year and have some great street murals. Thanks for post. MB
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Thanks for that suggestion. I have Łódź on my to visit list, but didn’t know about the graffiti festival. I will investigate
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It’s cool.
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Magnifique trompe l’œil ! et qui s’accorde merveilleusement avec le chantier
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Yes, he works hard on the trompe l’oeil effect, adding real bricks to add to the “trompe” effect!
I’ll be watching out for more of his work
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…3D at it best.
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Huge and so life like Debbie!
Love that he comes out the other side of the wall in Italy, what a great work of art.
Thanks for participating.
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Great capture with the man on the left nicely adding to your shot! I am always impressed by how much you find out about the artists, Debbie!
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Ever so good Debbie 🙂
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t was one not to miss – I was on a bus when I spotted it and had to get off at next stop and pop back. Glad I did!
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That is so good………..I hope the next bus wasn’t that far behind
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I got a boat instead, so it was really worth the change of plans 🙂
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Oh yes a boat is much better than a bus
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what a cool piece of art and nice to know a bit about the artist
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Glad you enjoyed it
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the mural is great – but getting that man to the left on his phone and leg down – wow – what a sync and makes the composition layered –
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Yep, I agree!
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Yes, I’ve no idea what he was doing there as it was a building site, with work going on. A friend had been refused access to the site just before I went in. So I was being quick and inconspicuous 😉 despite my backpack, tripod and cameras!!
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Wow – so you snuck in – even better !
And he is well-dressed and on his phone while the mural
Has action….
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Thanks for sharing the information about the artist along with the art work
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I found it so interesting I had to share 🙂
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I like this image and this piece of art a lot.
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It really stood out, and I love it even more now I know about its other half
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Yes, I found that backstory really interesting.
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