Shezil Malik is a designer, illustrator, and activist that strongly works on social issues like women’s rights, feminism, and identity constructs. Through her artworks, fashion design, publication design, illustration and branding she builds feminist solidarity and community around the world. Her works illustrate a way for feminism to be bigger than a theoretical debate and a movement, to be a part of this world and begin shaping the daily lives of those stories we have taken inspiration from. She is a Pakistani artist whose work is deliberately centered in her own experiences and those around her. She is an icon for transnational feminism through their collaborations with multiple international brands as well as local brands, to bring forth the issues in women’s rights. In the collaboration with Generation X she creates a clothing line that is inspired by the struggles of being a girl/women in Pakistan, each piece is dedicated to a person or a feeling.
Pakistan, India, and other Asian countries are all still struggling under patriarchy. I chose this artist for my blog post because it reminds me of many women artists I know that have made a living from traditional craftwork. The art of creating through one’s cultural knowledge and using it to empower yourself out of poverty, insecurity and taking action is a noble fight. Malik is obviously from a fairly well to do background but this doesn’t protect her from patriarchal rule. She speaks out about the anxiety and depression which is the result of oppression and constant struggles of gender inequality.
Keywords: Women’s rights, feminism, art
Author: Savita Bhabhi
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