Shahzia Sikander's sculpture, criticized by a prominent anti-abortion group as promoting "demonic" themes, has stirred controversy. Initially celebrated for exploring female empowerment in New York, the sculpture, named Witness (2023), depicts a woman with root-like limbs and a hoop skirt, hinting at themes of femininity and power.
The piece, partially a commentary on the erosion of abortion rights in the U.S., is now under fire as it prepares to be displayed at the University of Houston. Critics, including Texas Right to Life, accuse it of using "demonic imagery" to celebrate abortion and honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg, despite no explicit mention of such imagery by Sikander.
The organization argues against glorifying what they see as defiance to God through art, insisting that art should embody truth, goodness, and beauty. The sculpture's arrival in Texas has reignited debates over artistic expression and the intersection of art with social and political issues, marking it the latest target of conservative groups labeling art as "demonic."
Selena Mattei