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Commissioned | Professional

Why did you make this work:
In my country, Indonesia, access to literary sources is limited. Hence, I was determined to find ways of disseminating stories other than through books. I turned to illustration as a universal language to articulate complex themes, such as the missing narratives of Southeast Asian women–while exploring the material culture of wearable artefact as both an art medium and an agency of social change.

What materials and techniques did you use?:
I created the illustrations in Procreate based on pencil drafts. After the colour separation, the drawing is screen-printed on pure cotton canvas using water-based, eco-friendly ink. The printed sheets are stitched into fashion accessories using the zero-waste cutting pattern.


How were your illustrations used:
I designed 'METU' wearable collection based on a fictional memoir highlighting the role of Javanese court women from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, who wielded considerable political, military, and economic influence – roles often overlooked in history. There is a graphic novel accompanying this collection.



Commissioner Company :
Tulisan

Social Media:
instagram.com/mytulisan

Personal Website:
melissasunjaya.com

College:
Falmouth University


Currently Based:
Indonesia

Biography:
Melissa Sunjaya is an Indonesian visual artist based in Jakarta who draws inspiration from drawing, writing, and sewing. Her work employs illustration as a universal language to articulate complex themes, focusing on missing narratives of Southeast Asian women. This exploration leads to examining the material culture in wearable artefacts as a medium of art and an agency for social change.