VICKY SHAHJAHAN
Performance: SAT 10.10.2020, from 7pm, Kaserne Basel
VICKY SHAHJAHAN, lives and works in Colombo (LK)
Vicky is a transgender activist who is an Indian-Sri lankan, an artist from Colombo’s Slave Island neighborhood. Vicky is known for her henna art, which brings new meaning to henna as an art form, as well as her mural work, sketches and portraits. Vicky’s work is mostly focused on feminism, freedom and gender rights. Together with artist Firi Rahman she co-runs the community art project #wearefromhere with the diverse community of Slave Island- a movement of breaking stigmas and celebrating the people living there through mural arts. She works fearlessly after having to face many challenges that pushed her forward. Vicky's also engaging into the performance art scene currently where she's deeply exploring and communicating with the audience related to her gender and her existence.
«I always tend to do things differently, think uniquely. Living in Sri Lanka being a trans/queer/non-binary person has been a ground-breaking challenge… As an activist for gender rights, I now use my art as a weapon to defend and define myself.»
Vicky Shahjahan was recommended as a participant in the Live Art Workshop at Partout by Pooja Sood and is supported by Pro Helvetia New Delhi.
For Acts of Transmission Vicky collaborates with Sorour Darabi.
Photo: I dance for - immersive performance installation - by Venuri Perera with Vicky shahjehan @Colomboscope festival