Panthers of ISKL #334: Zara S. (‘26) - The Art-Loving, Community-Driven Panther
After being a part of the student council and experiencing an art community, I knew that I wanted to build that as much as I could in ISKL. I really love having a community and space where passion and love for art can be shared.
Meet Zara S. (‘26), ILHAM Student Council member and arts enthusiast who seizes every opportunity to contribute to ISKL’s artistic community by participating in a variety of initiatives through the gallery and beyond. She enjoys sharing her passion and involvement in a variety of other art-led clubs, discovering how this love can foster cultural growth and friendships.
Here is Zara’s story
Can you tell us more about yourself? What grade did you join ISKL in?
I am American with Indian roots. I lived in about six different countries and 11 cities, all before Middle School. Before coming to Malaysia, I had lived in Hong Kong, but I have also lived in the United States and Canada. I have been at ISKL since Grade 6, making it the school and country I have spent most of my life in.
We understand that you are an active participating student in the ILHAM Gallery. Can you tell us a little more about your involvement in this?
I had known about ILHAM gallery as I am extremely interested in art and love galleries. I became aware of the Student Council opportunity in Grade 10 at the suggestion of my art teacher, Ms. Tilton. I had to discuss my experience with art (a piece I have either made or not) and my connection with it for the application. I was very lucky to be accepted into the Student Council out of 50+ applicants. The Student Council consisted of 15 members from students across Malaysia. The first thing that stood out to me was the chance to be involved in an art community outside of school and people I would likely not have a chance to interact with.
I had been a part of the Student Council for two years, where we were involved with ILHAM, which organized workshops with artists featured in their exhibitions, exhibition openings, allowing us to talk to established artists, content creation for ILHAM’s Instagram, Student Council projects such as a zine, (a small magazine of artworks from council members), and organizing student council-led events.
One of the most exciting opportunities as part of the Student Council was the opportunity to host a screening of a mini-documentary and moderate a Q&A session with the director. I was assigned to moderate the Q&A session in front of an audience. This was a very unique opportunity to interview a real director and host an event at a local gallery. I was able to learn a lot about what it is like to plan and carry out an event, as well as an invaluable experience to discuss with an artist.
What other student initiatives are you involved in? What does this mean to you, personally, and for any other student who may be interested in getting involved?
I have served as the ISKL Art Society Executive since Grade 10. After being part of the Student Council and experiencing an art community, I knew I wanted to build that as much as I could at ISKL. I really love having a community and space where passion and love for art can be shared. As an executive, I was able to do collaborative projects with the CARE (Circle of Alliance for Refugee Empowerment) club, planning workshops for refugee kids to participate in and create something to take home. I also wanted to showcase that passion to the school more and wanted to take the opportunity to become an executive so that I can promote more art within the school as well.
I was able to do this by kickstarting the Nurse Mural Project. In the nurse’s office, you can now see Art Society artworks hanging on the wall and the pillars that are soon to be painted. Additionally, I facilitated a collaborative Art Society project that was featured in the annual Middle and High School Art Exhibition. This was a first for the club!
I have also been a three-year participant and two-year delegate of IASAS Art. In 2024, as we hosted IASAS Art, I was also able to contribute as part of the CulCon committee, making designs that were used during CulCon, planning activities, goodie bags, and more. It was very fulfilling to be a part of the planning team and see IASAS Art being so successful, seeing the other delegates having fun and enjoying the parts of Kuala Lumpur that I love as well. IASAS Art exemplifies what it is like to be a part of the wider art community that is overflowing with passion, and it was very exciting to be a part of making it successful.
What inspires you in the arts, both at school and beyond?
Again, just being a part of the wider art community has also been very impactful to me. I love being around people who have a shared love and respect for the arts, as I find it is a very unique and valuable experience that I can’t find in many other places. This is what has drawn me to many of the art experiences I have had; either to be a part of it, such as at ILHAM Student Council, or to attempt to create one, as I have tried to do in the ISKL Art Society.
Who are your role models? And who influences you?
My role model is definitely my mom. When we lived in the US, as one of the only Indian families, my mom took this as an opportunity to get acquainted with the community and make a profit by selling her delicious Indian food. This proactive response, while being in an unfamiliar environment, has also stood out to me. She found a way to be valuable and join the community by doing something she loved. I have tried to emulate that by making an impact with my art and involvement in the art community.
One major influence for me right now is Kathleen Hanna from the feminist punk bands Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and the Julie Ruin. She was the co-founder of the riot grrrl movement, which encouraged women to form bands, create zines, and all and all take up space and be loud. Just as she did with the Riot Grrrl movement, my aim has always been to create and be a part of a community that encourages each other to show their passion, be loud about the issues they want to discuss, and be creative. I am especially in awe of how proactive she is about making a difference and discussing important things that need to be talked about during that time. I strive to be an active member of the community that is unafraid to be themselves and take action, as I try to do with my art, that almost always a discussion of political or societal issues I want to address.
What is your most memorable moment at ISKL?
One of my most memorable moments while at ISKL was during IASAS Art in 2024. This was my first time participating as a delegate, and being around like-minded people who shared a passion for the arts was inspiring and fun. One especially impactful moment was when we visited ILHAM Gallery as a CulCon activity. As part of the ILHAM Student Council, I had seen the opening of the exhibition and already knew what it was about. The exhibition was about Kuala Lumpur in the 1990s, and it was one of my favorites because of the punk influences and economic transitions of that time. Due to my familiarity with and love for the exhibition, I took a few delegates and explained some parts of it to them. It was heartwarming to see how attentively ISKL delegates and other IASAS school delegates listened as more and more joined the group, listening to me as I rambled on about the things I loved about the exhibition. It exemplified for me how a shared love of art brings people together.
Which Panther superlatives best describe you, and how does this reflect your Panther spirit and personality?
I am the Most Onz Panther, (Onz means nothing is impossible) as I believe “nothing is impossible”. I have been able to carry out many projects within the school/collaborative art world, including the nurse mural and collaborative art workshops. I have been able to make an impact in the school and community that I wasn’t sure I would be able to when I entered High School.
Tell us why ISKL is special to you and what you like most about the school.
I especially love that ISKL encourages students to take their own initiatives to make an impact in the school and community. As an executive of two clubs that carry out many projects, Art Society and Service and Sustainability Council, I have realized how much support the school gives us so that we can carry out impacts within the school. While it is also student-led, the school provides sufficient guidance and tools to teach students to be proactive and unafraid to make changes.
What does the ISKL vision ‘Know yourself, care for all and create a better world” mean to you?
The ISKL vision has always resonated with me as I have also paid attention to how I can create positive impacts on others and move towards a better shared community.
This statement reminds me that to make a positive change, I first must know what I care about, what change I want to see made, and how I can carry it out. Care for all encourages me to think about actions that have a positive influence on others in the community, then finally, “create a better world” means to me taking into account what I want to see in the world, what would be caring and positive for those around me, and based on that, what actions to take.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff member who always has an anecdote to tell, loves to share some insights into their passions and interests, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.