On show at Spazju Kreattiv, Small Bones of Courage is a compelling exhibition featuring the work of ten Maltese and international women artists, co-curated by Najlaa El-Ageli and Margerita Pulè.

Small Bones of Courage offers a poignant exploration of the profound impact of global forces—geopolitics, climate change, and persistent social tensions—on the individual lives of women.

The exhibition creates a dedicated space for contemplation, inviting visitors to engage with the complex themes of identity and geography as experienced by women artists who share a connection to dislocation, whether through physical displacement or the fragmentation of memory.

The artists’ works, diverse in medium and approach, converge to create a rich and resonant tapestry within the space.

The works in the exhibition—characterised by their delicacy and intimacy—offer glimpses into the artists’ inner worlds and deep emotional investment, prompting reflection on the courage it takes to navigate a world marked by constant change and the enduring power of art to articulate the unspoken.

Collectively, they convey a powerful and recurring theme: the presence of absence, the traces of reflection, and the ongoing process of mapping the soul.

Through their work, each artist embarks on a personal journey of memory exploration, revealing stories that are sometimes tragic, but also occasionally humorous. Through their art, they forge vital connections between past knowledge and present realities, weaving together threads of recollection and lived experience.

The ‘small bones of courage’ in the exhibition title—taken from a song by Aldous Harding—become tangible expressions of resilience, embodying acts of tenacity and strength.

Each narrative within the exhibition reflects the intricate interplay of physical and psychological elements that define migration tales, whether through crossing borders or a more internal journey of cultural shifts and personal transformation.

Artists: Afsoon, Aya Al Barghathy, Sam Alekksandra, Charlie Cauchi, Ioulia Chante, Malak Elghuel, Maria Kassab, Esmeralda Kosmatopulos, Sarah Smahane, and Sandra Zaffarese.

Co-curators: Najlaa El-Ageli and Margerita Pulè.

Small Bones of Courage is open 7th March to 27th April, 2025, at Space A, Spazju Kreattiv.

It is a Spazju Kreattiv Commission, supported by the MTA, in collaboration with Noon Arts and Unfinished Art Space.

Tag someone who needs to visit this exhibition