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Malaysia

Shia Yih Yiing

A woman wearing glasses smiles while taking a selfie in front of a desk with various items on it. © Shia Yih Yiing

After graduating from the Malaysian Institute of Arts and the University of Western Sydney, Shia Yih Yiing‘s work became known for its use of allegory and nuanced storytelling. She intertwines personal narratives with broader cultural and historical contexts, often incorporating nature at the very centre of her pieces. She originated from Sarawak and is based in Kuala Lumpur.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Mundane Carries Intensity and Turbulence
Yih Yiing continues the thread of her previous piece Homage Couture and paints herself as Miss Nature in Dayak indigenous costumes, which function as vessels of cultural knowledge and memory.

An Asian woman working at a desk with a laptop, surrounded by drawings. © Shia Yih Yiing

Through autofictional self-portraits, she weaves her own experiences together with the stories of indigenous women from Sarawak and draws on the figure of Swan Maiden, whose feathered cloak symbolizes freedom and self-discovery. The autofictional mode of storytelling opens an imaginary space in which she can transform into the figure she wishes to embody.
The exhibition was held at basis e.V. from 13 – 18 December 2025.

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