- Why did you create this work?
This book gives a brief history of pre-colonial Javanese women, Indonesia. In Indonesia, access to bookshops and literary sources is limited. According to a survey by UNESCO in 2016, only 1 in every 1,000 Indonesians showed an active interest in reading. Hence, I was determined to find ways of disseminating history through illustration. - How were your illustrations used?
Aiming to resonate with a wider, particularly the younger female audience, I illustrated the book cover using a palette traditionally associated with cosmetics – blush pink, lipstick red, eye-shadow blue, and mascara black. This choice was simple and strategic, designed to familiarise and question. - What materials and techniques did you use?
I used Procreate to emulate linocut print impression in digital illustration. - Was this project commissioned?
Commissioned - Commissioner Name
Peter Carey - Commissioner Company
Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia - Commissioner Instagram
@penerbitkpg - Who was the work commissioned for?
Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia - Agent
Tulisan - Agent Instagram
@mytulisan - College / University
Falmouth University - Course and graduation date
MA Illustration Online 2025 - Personal Website or Portfolio Link
melissasunjaya.com - Instagram
@mytulisan - 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. - Where are you currently based?
Indonesia
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