Creative

Radha

He/She/They

Radha aka Shahmen Suku is a performance artist based in Sydney who explores ideas of racial, religious and cultural identity, gender roles, the home and the kitchen, food and storytelling. Growing up in a modern matriarchal Indian family in Singapore, Shahmen processes his sense of displacement from home as Radha, the Diva from India. Moving to Australia has given Shahmen multiple perspectives on migration, culture, race, colonisation and gender identity. Shahmen discusses these issues openly through his alter ego, Radha, sharing stories the way she learnt them from his mother’s kitchen. Radha’s multifaceted practice has also seen them perform/host numerous music festivals and events, presented in Art Exhibitions, shows and workshops for kids and also a chef on the ABC’s The Set. He currently lives and works in Australia.

Radha, a South Asian drag performer, smiles at the camera while wearing a turquoise satin dress and black turban, with silver eyeshadow, thinly drawn brows and extravagant yellow lashes. They are holding a mortar bowl in one hand and a few mint leaves in the other.

Photo credit: Jess Gleeson.

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