back to top
  /    /  Wickana

Wickana

Wickana

Meet visual artist and illustrator from Jakarta, Wickana.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Wickana, a visual artist and illustrator from Indonesia. Dream, horror and Japanese culture are 3 things that have always been my interests. I grew up surrounded by Japanese comic books that influence me to draw, which led me to my current style. When I was in my final year at college, I fell deeply into the art of surrealism and become fascinated by the works of Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and Mark Ryden. I realized this is the kind of art that in want to create, telling a story in a very metaphorical, and mysterious way. I describe my works as dark and cute at the same time. I always invest my story in the contrast between two things that are opposites: light-dark as well as good-evil because as a human being that’s how we show our true nature.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.
I was born and grew up in Bandung, a very relaxed, nice weather city where the people are very friendly. My home was located on one of the city’s main roads passed by many public transportations, so it’s so easy for me to go anywhere. After finishing my Bachelor’s degree, I moved to Jakarta to work at an advertising agency and I permanently stayed here after getting married. Compared to where I came, everything is moving faster in Jakarta. The city and the traffic are much crowded and the weather is more humid and hotter, which I think increases people’s bad temper.

 

I always invest my story in the contrast between two things that are opposites: light-dark as well as good-evil because as a human being that’s how we show our true nature.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?
Today, I live in southern Jakarta, where every day I greet with the ever-busy traffic, packed with noisy people who always seem in a hurry. Actually, it’s not an ideal city if you want to spend your lifetime here, the pollution so bad it becomes a problem, and makes the overall air feels very dirty and humid. The good thing is, as a big, capital city, it’s a good place to meet many opportunities, and encountered many amazing people that may elaborate your creativity.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

innovative, skillful, challenging

 

How did you start your career in art?
As the youngest daughter in my family, the gap between me and my siblings are quite a distance, so I used to spend my time alone, reading comics and making drawings. Since then, drawing became my way to escape every time I get bored. As my mother knew how I really love to draw, I was enrolled to enter an art and design faculty at Bandung Institute of Technology. After graduation, I was given a final assignment project to join an exhibition along with other design universities. That was my first time to showcase my own original artworks in Jakarta. After I moved here, I started to create some products based on my illustrations for many art market invitations. Being invited frequently, makes me interact and connect with many creative people that excite and raise my self-esteem as an artist. At that time, Instagram was still new so I began to post my artworks regularly on that platform and because of the reach of social media, I gained a lot of opportunities to collaborate with so many people, until today.

Drawing became my way to escape every time I get bored.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?
I was blessed to have a trustful and supportive mother. I was always not confident with myself but it’s her who gives me the courage to pursue what I love to do the most. Although until now, she’s always questioning why I like to draw dark and scary things.

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?
I dream of having my own solo exhibition and become more productive to create a lot of good artworks.

 

I dream of having my own solo exhibition and become more productive to create a lot of good artworks.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?
Collaborating with Guillermo del Toro will be my wildest dream.

 

How would you describe the women around you?

Independent, strong and loving.

 

Independent, strong and loving.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?
I think it’s my mother. She is really skillful at sewing. When I was little, she made dresses, a plush doll and a tote bag for me to use.

 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?
As far as I know, I don’t see any differences between females or males in the art industries. Everyone was valued by their own works, not by gender.

 

Sometimes it takes time to find what you really want to do or create, and it’s fine.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Sometimes it takes time to find what you really want to do or create, and it’s fine. For me, everything needs process, and through it all, we learn more about ourselves as a creative. The important thing about art is not only how good or bad but more about how honest it is.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Wickana.

Website:

Instagram:

Twitter:

Category:
Date:
0