The GRAZIA Game Changers initiative honours visionaries who challenge the status quo across fashion, beauty, technology, the arts, and sports. Embodying the spirit of women uplifting women, last year’s trailblazers have personally selected this year’s honourees.
Here, we’re introducing Shireen Marican, a curator and strategist whose work creates meaningful collaborative opportunities through art and design.
What inspired you to pursue this path of arts and design? Was there a defining moment that set you on this journey?
I grew up in what I imagine to be a creative household and my parents had a real knack for putting combinations of things together that left me really curious. Everything from prints and patterns to forms and furniture felt creative and sometimes peculiar, but definitely intentional. I was naturally curious about all of it but instead of asking my parents directly, I found myself trying to figure it out on my own. That curiosity and the need to understand the ‘why’ behind aesthetics nudged me strongly towards studying the arts formally until the postgraduate level.
Your work has reshaped the landscape of arts and culture in Singapore, particularly through your curatorial work with local artists. What motivated you to challenge the status quo?
I see the work I do as renegotiating the conventional boundaries of collaboration in arts and culture—something I know many professionals in these industries are increasingly pursuing. This trans-disciplinary approach has allowed me to work with people far beyond the traditional realms of art and design, instead engaging with planners, architects, scientists and economists. This was largely made possible through my work at Desire Lines, an environmental, cultural and social impact consultancy.
I believe the work I do cultivates a culture of learning, and expands the existing landscape arts and culture, rather than reshaping it. It is about presenting topical interests, supporting evidence and data, and compelling case studies in an accessible format of an art exhibition, often through collaborations with partners who share aligned values.
Have you ever faced a moment of self-doubt? How did you push past it?
I can certainly relate to those moments of self-doubt. For me, the key is recognising the triggers that unlock these feelings. When they arise, I want to assess: Is this because of an internal standard I’ve set for myself, or is it stemming from an external factor like someone else’s response? Then without dwelling on it, I shift my focus to activities that build my confidence, bring me joy or simply put me in a better environment. It’s so important to change your perspective quickly, so you don’t find yourself spiraling down a path of self-defeat or low esteem.
What does success mean to you, and has that definition evolved over time?
My idea of success has really changed over time. I used to think it was all about achieving the goal—together or not—and pouring everything I had into a project. But now, in my thirties, I see things so differently. To me, success is about healthy, positive collaboration—whether with colleagues, partners, clients, or even students. It’s about finding common ground in how we work together, establishing shared principles and supportive environments. Any project is shaped by the collective energy and commitment that everyone brings to the table, and work is never done alone.
What’s a belief or idea you held at the start of your career that you’ve completely rethought?
I used to have a traditional view that successful careers were measured by title progressions. But I’ve since realised it’s more complex than that, especially in creative industries. Hierarchical structures and title-based definitions of roles often don’t apply, especially when so many professionals are independent. In these fields, career progression is more about developing maturity in your practice, cultivating your ability to think critically, cultivating a deep understanding of creativity, and mastering a host of other skills that go beyond a job title.
What’s a failure that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
A ‘failure’ that ultimately became a blessing for me involved a startup project I was developing with a professional connection. We spent quite a bit of time brainstorming ideas back and forth. I became deeply invested operating on the assumption that we’d eventually move forward but soon after, I had a friendly conversation with the partner letting me know that it will materialise in a completely different direction. Initially, I saw the ‘failure’ on my part—a lack of intuition in reading the logical needs of the partner and the project itself. But that ‘failure’ turned out to be incredibly valuable and forced me to examine my perception of the situation and why I considered it a ‘failure’ in the first place.
What’s one habit or ritual that keeps you grounded amid chaos?
One thing that really helps me stay grounded when life gets hectic is making a conscious effort to connect with friends and family. It doesn’t have to be a long phone call, or meeting them in person. Even dropping a quick text or responding to an older message makes all the difference. We sometimes get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that it’s easy to let those connections slip. It’s a small change, but a good reminder that our time isn’t inherently more valuable than anyone else’s. What is important is the effort we make to show the people we really care about that they matter, and taking a bit of that time to reach out helps me remember what truly sustains me.
What’s a system, standard, or stereotype you hope to completely rewrite?
One assumption I think people have is that careers in the arts and design fields are made up of just artists or designers. Trying to explain what I do can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. I think many other arts, culture and design professionals also experience this, because these fields are so much richer and more complex than just aesthetics. Part of the issue is that people tend to default to thinking about occupations that exist across all industries, overlooking the specialised and incredible range of roles that exist within the creative sectors. Public art administrators, systems designers and curatorial researchers are just a few examples of the diverse but vital functions within the creative ecosystem.
What’s next for you? How do you plan to keep changing the game?
I’m excited about an upcoming exhibition I’m co-curating with artist Jonathan Liu, titled Portals, with the support of the Global Cultural Alliance. This exhibition really exemplifies the direction I want to take my work in the future, collaborating closely with others and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone to explore alternative and creative approaches to exhibition-making. I’m more about what the work intends to convey in relation to other works in the space, the making of the material that visually represents this message, the context in which the work is exhibited and how all of this affects the visitor’s experience.
PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN GABRIEL LEOW
ART DIRECTION MARISA XIN
STYLING KELLY HSU
PRODUCED BY CHERYL LAI-LIM, DANISHA LIANG, AND PAMEYLA CAMBE
MAKEUP SVETA KLYN OF THE SUBURBS STUDIO, USING FENTY BEAUTY
HAIR AIYI ZHOU, USING KEUNE HAIR COSMETICS
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT MELVIN LEONG
FASHION ASSISTANT NUR ASWANI
This story first appeared in the March 2025 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
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