Critical Expression: Shilo Shiv Suleman

Fearless Collective wall in San Francisco  by Shiv Suleman

Shilo Shiv Suleman is an indian contemporary artist. She uses art as a platform to convey messages about sexuality, gender, religion and cultural issues. Art is very powerful tool that can be used to spread a message, demonstrate emotions, or disclose dark truths about society. Suleman is able to display all three of ideals through her art pieces, "The fearless Collectives."

She is the founder of "The fearless Collective," which primarily focuses on sexual violence. This mural "Tell me my love what have you seen today?" caught my eye because of the powerful message it illustrates. This piece exhibits sexual violence that usually goes unseen in todays society. For example, RAINN.org (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) proves that every 98 seconds there is a sexual assault that is not always reported. Even if a person encounters or experience a sexual assault, he/she will not always speak up about it. The quote on this mural, "Tell me my love what have you seen today" is addressed towards the general audience that lives in this culture that is belittles sexual violence. 

The repetitive use of 'eyes' symbolizes the ignorance towards sexual abuse. Individuals in society come across these events everyday of their lives. Obviously, human sees things with their eyes yet they choose to ignore these sexual violence events just mentioned and would rather act as bystander. 

The word "fearless" is the focal point of this mural to show the strength a woman posses to live in this culture that ignores the fundamental safety of a woman's sexuality. Suleman uses murals like this one to speak for women who are too afraid to speak for themselves. 

-Mah Noor