'Unwritten Rules' that investigate conformity, identity and freedom

An exhibition by artist Ebru Çınar Erdoğan, currently on at Bizzilla Art Space in Floriana, reflects on the invisible yet powerful restrictions imposed on women through societal expectations. At the heart of this exploration lies the concept of Elalem, literally “what people will say”, an unwritten authority that dictates behaviour and silently enforces conformity.

Growing up in Turkey, Erdoğan experienced how everyday life for young girls was framed by shame and prohibition. Women were expected to remain indoors, seated beside their mothers, under the constant, unspoken surveillance of Elalem. These formative experiences became the foundation of her artistic reflections on gender, identity and freedom.

Artist Ebru Çınar Erdoğan

Over time, and particularly after moving abroad, Erdoğan recognised that these unwritten rules were not confined to her cultural background. Conversations with women from different countries, including Malta, revealed that similar pressures persist worldwide, cutting across religious or cultural lines. This recognition shifted her understanding: such rules are not about faith or tradition, but about controlling women’s autonomy.

In Unwritten Rules, Erdoğan questions how these inherited patterns continue to pass silently from one generation to the next. Through the traditional medium of embroidery, she transforms a symbol of patience and repetition into an act of resistance.

The artist questions how inherited patterns continue to pass silently from one generation to the next.

Each stitch recalls the restrictions women are taught to accept, yet in reworking the thread, she reclaims the narrative, restitching possibilities of love, self-confidence and liberation.

Unwritten Rules, curated by Melanie Erixon, runs at Bizzilla Art Space, Mapfre MSV Life, Triq il-Mall, Floriana, until October 30. It is supported by Art Sweven, Mapfre MSV Life and Wine Factor Malta. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 5pm.