Maltese Artist Shanice Farrugia Presents Debut Solo Exhibition: (UN)EXPRESSED

Maltese artist Shanice Farrugia is set to present her debut solo exhibition, (UN)EXPRESSED, an intimate collection of self-portraits exploring emotional restraint, quiet endurance and the feelings often left unspoken.

Curated by Melanie Erixon, the exhibition will open at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba on Friday 16 October at 7:30pm and will remain open until 8 November 2026.

Developed over the past two years, (UN)EXPRESSED focuses on the face as more than a representation of identity, using it as a space where internal emotions and experiences become visible. Through a series of self-portraits, Farrugia examines the contrast between the emotions people experience and the composed exterior they often maintain.

The exhibition explores how ideas around strength, resilience and composure can influence the way difficult emotions are expressed. Through details such as tired eyes, flushed skin, tension and stillness, Farrugia highlights the subtle ways feelings can appear even when they remain unspoken.

Several works feature cropped, fragmented or partially concealed faces, reflecting the complexity of emotional expression. A recurring raven appears throughout the collection as a symbol connected to the fear of loss, representing the space between hope and uncertainty, as well as presence and absence.

While rooted in personal experience, (UN)EXPRESSED aims to encourage broader reflection on vulnerability and the emotions people often learn to suppress. The exhibition challenges the idea that strength is found only in silence, suggesting that recognising and accepting vulnerability can also be a powerful form of resilience.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Farrugia’s first solo exhibition and explore a collection that examines the relationship between outward appearance and inner emotional worlds.

#MaltaDaily