It's hard not to find a bit of pop-cultural appropriation in the roots of street art. There has always been artists who take from Disney, Hollywood, politics, and remix it into stencil art, wheat-pastes and murals. But there has been a trend over the last decade, as Big Muralism has become the trend, where we have begun to toe the line toward cultural appropriation in ways that have become insensitive and uneducated. Predominantly, we see this in depictions of Asian woman and culture, where Geishas pop-up in far away cities without context and often over-sexualized by a male artist.

In this short report from Radio Juxtapoz, Doug Gillen speaks with artists Hueman and Sheena Liam about this conversation about depictions of Asian culture in street art, their own experiences and how nuanced conversations are not being had or understood for a better and broader dialogue. 

The Radio Juxtapoz podcast is hosted by FIFTH WALL TV's Doug Gillen and Juxtapoz editor, Evan Pricco. Episode 072 was recorded via Skype in London, Penang and Oakland in early May, 2021. Follow us on @radiojuxtapoz