Zuraisa

STEM Projects is pleased to present Sweat & Bitter, a solo presentation by Zuraisa.

The exhibition shows the artist’s reflections on the body, labor, and the silent weight carried by women within both industrial and domestic spheres. Through her works, Zuraisa visualizes women’s bodies caught within the rigid structures of industrial work—trapped in cycles of speed, repetition, and exhaustion as they become extensions of a rapidly moving capitalist machine.

In Sweat & Bitter, Zuraisa juxtaposes the female body with the figure of the mare—a symbol of strength, loyalty, and endurance. The mare becomes a metaphor for women who continuously move, work, and adapt under pressure, while also safeguarding and sustaining life in conditions that are not always just. Through this parallel, Zuraisa creates a compelling visual narrative that honors resilience while confronting systemic inequities.

This notion is highlighted through the artist’s attention towards the patriarchal social system that offers little acknowledgment of women’s labor. Zuraisa revisits the legacy of the New Order era, when propaganda surrounding women’s “dual roles” constructed social expectations and mental burdens that continue to shape women’s lives today. In public spaces, women navigate workplace hierarchies that rarely support them, while essential facilities ensuring safety and comfort remain insufficient.

The exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the unseen labor that fuels our daily lives and to reconsider the value and dignity of women’s work in both visible and invisible forms.