LONE Thyself SHEENA LIAM

BAZAAR steps into the new vear with positive vibes as we embrace individuality, to celebrate all the strengths and quirks that make us the unique person we are today. Top model SHAREN A LEAM leads the way as she gives us the lowdown on her art, insecurities and the things that make her feel good about herself.

- ABDUL AZIZ DRAIM

“It’s complicated,” Sheena Liam replies when asked to explain what she’s doing these days. Though she began her career in modelling, following her win in Asia’s Top Model cycle two back in 2014, over the years Sheena has also found the time to develop herself as an artist. “I’ve been keeping myself busy,” she continues, “and I never say no to any opportunities.”

As a model, those opportunities have taken her across the globe to the runways of London, New York and Los Angeles for the likes of Simone Rocha, Diane Von Furstenberg and Opening Ceremony, while as an artist she has gone on to secure a solo exhibition at the Item Gallery in Paris and group exhibitions in Belfast as well as across The United States and Malaysia. “(Now) I’ve my studio practice with the embroidery, Times New Romance,” she adds. “But I’ve also expanded to investing in a printer for our studio, Cultprint. We print high quality archival prints of our artwork. It’s busy and we have a good bunch of reliable amazing people on hand.”

Having completed her International Baccalaureate in Arts at the University of South Australia, as an artist Sheena’s chosen medium is unorthodox: embroidery. What began as something she would do to kill time between runway shows has gone on to help free embroidery from its crafts trappings, as her art helps to dispel any doubts about embroidery as having true artistic merit (her numerous exhibitions are further proof of that). In her hands, embroidery becomes “a tool of quiet resistance”, one she utilises to create works that explore womanhood as she depicts women in their private moments—reading a book, combing her hair, changing her clothes—that more often than not appear contemplative, relatable and thought-provoking.