Just To Be Absolutely Clear

TL;DR: Just to be absolutely clear: the views expressed here and elsewhere and in my art are my own. I am the artist and founder: Shreya Tanisha. No one, especially not any member of my family, is responsible or liable for any of them.

We are not a puppet troupe. We answer to no puppet masters, and I am no one's puppet.

The views expressed by this company and it's founder, Shreya Tanisha (me!), are entirely my own and no one, I repeat, no one, and especially not my family, are liable for any views expressed by me. Not my father, not my mother, not my sister, not anyone working with or associated to me. Once again: the only person responsible for all content and views expressed by this company and its founder and its art is: Shreya Tanisha, who is me. And there is only one of me. If you have a problem: you talk to me about it.

Don't drag anyone else into it. Definitely don't drag my family into it. If you do my response as a company, as a founder, and as an artist will be ruthless. Because you're crossing a line and it is a line that you have no right to cross.

Now read the rest.

The Rest:

There seems to be some speculation since some people think this business is their business - which, I guess I accept since it is public - about who is behind this company.

I know it must be difficult to imagine someone as young as myself having built my own company and for some people who are culturally or just psychology unused to or uncomfortable with the fact that a woman is in charge and making the rules and being vocal and assertive (sadly this seems to be an issue for both men and women, but women I forgive you because I've also had to forgive myself) this can seem like fiction. It's not possible. Did she really do this? No way.

Yes, I did do this.

So I am going to make something very clear: whilst naturally I have familial backing & support like most people in the world have as they are growing up, or at least most of the people I have known growing up, the views expressed by this company and its founder (me) are entirely our own.

People assume that my parents, particularly my father, has influenced my choices or worldview. That's a classic patriarchical infantilization of women in general. Given where I orginally come from and my perceived criticism of certain cultural norms I understand the backlash. "Anti-national" or "religiously insensitive" but none of it is true. But if you have such a strong right to be offended then I too have the right to offend.

And it's also extremely covenient to frame it that way, that someone else for reasons unknown are influencing all decisions or all my expressions, because then you can remove all accountability from yourself to try and get me or any woman or anyone for that matter to do what you want. "Your thinking is flawed... you're insensitive... that's not what really happens... look at these women they agree with me... look at these people they disagree with you... it must be the man you knew because not all men and definitely not me - I am just not like that - it's your father's fault not mine... it's your mother's fault not mine... your life experiences are your problem... they do not reflect reality."

Really? Because I'm not a human being?

How boring.

Since the age of 16 I have been an emancipated adult (I lived in The Netherlands when I was that age and then went to boarding school) and so all my thoughts and actions are something I take full responsbility for. No one aside from myself is responsible or liable for any of my actions. My father, my mother, my sister nor any member of my extended family is directly responsible for any of my expressed views or my art. Sure, they may have been an influence but they did not tell me what to think or do as though they were puppet masters and I am a puppet. I understand for many people that is seen as radical.

I am most certainly not anyone's puppet.

I'll repeat that for clarification: I am NO ONE's puppet. What I say, think, do, like an adult, is from my own brain and heart expressing itself. Yes as a woman. Get that clear. We really are in the 21st century.

I only comply to laws that have to do with decency or geographical location (i.e. cultural sensitivity and discretion according to state laws) but within reason, and I never compromise on my core beliefs. Not for anyone or anything. Human rights are not a fashion statement for me. They come from my lived experience as a human being from my own life. Advocacy is not a crime.

So before you come at me or my company or my art with condescension and patronisation how about you think about the fact that at least I have the courage and ability to stand for something and hold myself accountable for it. Whereas you are just trying to find someone else or something else to displace your own sense of inadequacy, guilt, culpability - whatever else - on. Simply because I talk about gender violence. Simply because you perceive it as a direct criticism of yourself.

I've been there, too. Triggered, scared, forced to look at myself. It's tough. But I've never avoided it, which is why I've interrogated it.

That's why I'm going to end with this: I too am guilty of gender-based violence. I have behaved in ways, which I believe can be labelled violent. And violence is not only physical so I'd like to be clear about that too. There are many forms of violence and I do believe I am also at fault. I have not been the ideal human being I imagine. I'll repeat this many times just like I have repeatedly defended my family because that's what you have to do when you are attacked. You have to hold yourself accountable and take responsibility.

And therefore it is my responsibility as much as my art asks for it to be our responsibility to work on those aspects of myself, which are clearly flawed.

I do not think there is a perfect solution. What I have learnt in my life is that there is always an opportunity for improvement.

And also didn't someone say ASSUME makes an ASS out of U and ME?

They were right.

The End.