Shika
VISUAL/PIXEL ARTIST | MALAYSIA
Shika/Shieko Reto (she/her) is a visual artist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, whose work features trans women’s experiences in Malaysia, LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental concerns, and human rights issues. Learn more about her work in the interview below and by visiting her Instagram account.
Art is a platform for social justice, from the streets to online.Shika
What role do you think art can play in social change, activism, and movements?
Art plays a crucial role in activism. It’s been a vehicle for social change for so long, and still in this digital age, art is a platform for social justice, from the streets to online.
How would you describe your artistic practice in amplifying or supporting social movements?
Being a trans woman and an artist, I use art to express my experiences living in Malaysia. I contribute what I can to a few local feminist and human rights NGOs, including the artwork they need for training workshops, human rights manuals, and design.
This artwork is in conjunction with International Women’s Day this year, but with a local flavor. It’s a portrayal of an Indian trans woman.
For International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, I created this artwork for personal use. I posted it to my social media account to celebrate the day with a portrayal of local drag queens.
For Transgender Day of Remembrance, I created this graphic for a local nongovernmental organization, Justice for Sisters, which aids transgender people in Malaysia. The image commemorates our fallen sisters and brothers with a quote from our trans man friend, Faris Saad.