Fearless Collective

As our army of artist activists grew, we recognized the real risks that creative people at the frontlines of movements face. We needed to shift form yet again- into an institution that could create, network, protect and resource political and social art across the Global South. We began imagining our next step in the evolution of Fearless, recognizing the real need to resource and protect artist activists across borders- We needed a fortress, a foundation. We are now shapeshifting again, from a personal art project, to a collective and now a foundation. We are Fearless.

Fearless is Shapeshifting From a personal art project To a call to action We move from fear to love We became a counterforce And now we are becoming an institution.

2012 - Fearless began as a creative response in crisis by artist Shilo Shiv Suleman, and turned into a flood of Beauty. Started in solidarity with the Nirbhaya protests in India, it soon crossed borders into Pakistan and Nepal where we began to see the spark of a movement and the founding methodology in participatory art. Women and artists across South Asia began to reclaim public spaces from fear through affirmative visions of the future. We are a counterforce of love - our work is to turn up at moments of fear and use art to shapeshift into love.

The title of Sara’s mural is “Healing ourselves and earth”. This mural represents the women from different indigenous communities including tamang community, limbu/yakthung community, koinch sunuwar community and majhi community. After a workshop with these women, Sara used water and native plants as metaphors to represent the women and their strength in the mural. Sara says, “Modern development often directly affects indigenous communities’ relationship with land, water, and forests. In Nepal, diverse communities are raising their voices against it. So in this mural, I represent those women who are working on different indigenous issues, such as advocating against hydroelectric and modern industrial projects. I believe these issues are relatable worldwide, especially for women who continue to stand for resistance, respect, and love for nature and community. This mural empowers us to be a fearless community, filling us with love and positive affirmation.” [Fearless Ambassador Program, Sara Tunich Koinch, Nepal, Fearless Collective, ThangkaArt, SocialChange, PublicMural]

Sara’s mural process started with a workshop where women from different indigenous communities, working for environmental justice, land rights, and their communities, gathered. Then they participated in fearless rituals, including storytelling and healing sessions, where they shared the challenges they faced in their activism journeys and how they healed themselves and their communities. They also shared indigenous relationships with native plants and herbs, using them for rituals and healing. During the session, participants were guided through spiritual meditation for healing. About the community partners: Biruwa is an initiative founded by young women, dedicated to empowering communities to address climate injustice and governance challenges in Nepal. Similarly, Focus for Indigenous Girls (FIG) is a community led by young indigenous women and girls from the diverse indigenous communities across Nepal, working to build an indigenous feminist movement grounded in lived experiences, identity, connection with land, gender and collective justice. [Fearless Ambassador Program, Sara Tunich Koinch, Nepal, Fearless Collective, ThangkaArt, SocialChange, PublicMural]

Meet Sara Tunich Koinch, our Fearless Ambassador 2025 from Nepal. Moving from the knowledge of Thangka art to exploring mixed media, Sara’s work is a journey of turning childhood trauma and “cultural shock” into positive spaces of resistance. As a postgraduate student of fine art, she challenges the colonized perspectives of art history, proving that our stories and cultural backgrounds are exactly what make our creativity boundless. Stay tuned to see how Sara’s vision for social change and indigenous storytelling takes shape with Fearless, out on the streets. [Fearless Ambassador Program, Sara Tunich Koinch, Nepal, Fearless Collective, ThangkaArt, SocialChange, PublicMural]

Working primarily with the Sheedi and Baloch community, who are the largest victims of this hate in Pakistan, Luluwa’s mural was against colourism. Luluwa believes that colourism is a form of racism that plagues the fabric of South Asian society and this perpetuation of a classist and colonial mindset needs to be addressed. Her mural shows the different communities that represent Lyari- the girls who box, the football scene, filmmakers, artists and women in the community who are the powerhouse. Luluwa says “Having the community represented on a wall was everything for me, this is why at the end I couldn’t choose just a few faces, it had to be many!” [Fearless Ambassador, Luluwa, Pakistan, Fearless Collective]

Luluwa’s mural process began with a workshop which involved a ritual of using multani mitti mixed with rose water to denote that everyone is made from soil and there is no shame in our bodies that we are born with. Luluwa says “As we applied the mix on our skins, we shared a moment of racism or colourism we experienced or witnessed with someone else. Then, we shared our own resolutions of why we won’t allow society to make us feel that way again.” About the community partner: Mehr-Ghar is an art based open community space in Lyari for learning and dialogue. Because of the amazing work they do with the baloch community, youths and other marganlized groups there, it was the perfect fit for Luluwa, who has also worked with their wonderful team many times before. [Fearless Ambassador, Luluwa, Pakistan, Fearless Collective]

Meet @luluwa.lokhandwala , our Fearless Ambassador 2025 from Pakistan. Her artistic journey delves into the dynamic realm of contemporary and experimental art while remaining deeply rooted in traditional art mediums and practices. The core of her work revolves around spirituality, ethnicity, feminism, and the vivid tapestry of urban life that serves as the backdrop for its evolution. Luluwa’s practice encompasses not only the final creation itself but also the processes of conceptualization, research, and documentation. [Fearless Ambassador, Luluwa, Pakistan, Fearless Collective]

The final mural by @papia_sarwar_dithi in Barishal is a tribute to the intergenerational strength, skill, and wisdom of the Gunoboti community. It celebrates the women whose hands continue to weave culture, memory, and livelihood into the fabric of their society. Each figure in the composition represents a different stage of life, serving as a reminder that ancestral knowledge is not something learned once. It is carried, shared, and renewed across generations. The artwork is rich with natural elements like banana trees, birds, water, and intricate woven patterns, symbolising a deep harmony with the environment and the connection between craft and ecology. Together, the mural stands as a powerful testament to resilience, community heritage, and the labour that sustains both the people and the land. [Fearless Collective, Papia Dithi, Bangladesh, Barishal, Traditional Crafts, Eco-friendly, Gunoboti, Community Mural, Intergenerational Wisdom]

Papia’s mural process began with a workshop centered on the affirmation: “ভবিষ্যতের স্বপ্ন বুনী, আমরা গুণী” (We Weave Our Future). For the ritual, participants from the Gunoboti community decorated the space with flowers and mats, creating a safe place to weave a basket together. While weaving, the group answered two questions: “What broke the community?” and “How can we weave them back?” By sharing their joy, sadness, love, and laughter, the artisans reframed their perspective on traditional crafts as a source of dignity and hope. These shared reflections and the collective weaving of the basket formed the foundation of the mural’s story. About the Community Partner: Gunoboti, a lifestyle brand and design community based in Dhaka. Their work is dedicated to safeguarding traditional artisan communities and ancestral knowledge by developing contemporary, eco-friendly products. Through this partnership, the mural became a space for uplifting the fair valuation of skills and a public expression of environmental leadership. [Papia Dithi, Fearless Ambassador, Bangladesh, Artivism, Mural Process, Gunoboti, Traditional Crafts, Barishal]

Meet Papia Dithi, our Fearless Ambassador 2025 from Bangladesh. She is an artist and architect based in Dhaka. By creating with natural and recycled materials, Papia uses her craft to challenge the systems around her and build towards a more sustainable future. [Fearless Ambassador Program, Papia Dithi, Bangladesh, Architect, SustainableArt, Fearless Collective]