Art, Emotions, and Culture: a conversation with Yen Melia Andreas.
6 June 2024
Steven Anggrek: Let's start with a surprising fact about you! Can you share something with us that we might not know about you, but should?
Yen Melia Andraes: A fun fact about me is that I used to live in a very rural area. The area was owned by a private paper and pulp company where both of my parents worked. They were among the first people to live there after all the houses and facilities were built in 1998. So, I basically had the experience of living in a forest, as it was newly constructed. I was very close to nature, to the extent that we were used to seeing snakes, big lizards, wild monkeys, and wild boars. I saw a lot of fireflies and would catch them with my hands and release them. I remember how I used to look at Nepenthes (Pitcher Plants) on my way home from school. Interestingly enough, there was a private school with an international curriculum there (because many expatriates worked for 2-3 years and brought their families) that I attended. I could learn and exchange conversations with people from around the world at a young age. I guess because of that, I feel like I had a rich experience during childhood that shaped who I am today.
Anggrek: What motivates you to create art? Please tell us about your creative process.
Andreas: I am a big feeler, so I experience a lot of intense emotions. Growing up in an Asian household made it hard for me to express these feelings, so I turned to painting as an outlet.
Anggrek: I know the feeling! It’s quite cold, I never hug my parents. Or rather, they never hug us, their children. So, painting helps?
Andreas: Painting helps me expressing my feeling. It inspires me to share this journey with others and often makes me feel like there’s nothing I can’t accomplish.
Anggrek: How do you start the process?
Andreas: I usually start with a lot of sketches; it’s like an idea bank for my paintings. I also take many photos of things I find interesting, which I can add later into my artwork.
Anggrek: Do you listen to any particular songs, albums, or genres while creating?
Andreas: The kind of music that I listen in my studio is a mix of many genres, as I love music just as much as visual art. I particularly appreciate young artists who pour their hearts into their music and writing, such as Jeremy Zucker, Alejandro Aranda, Phoebe Bridgers, and many more. I like songs that are honest and descriptive because it takes a lot of courage to create them.
Anggrek: On your solo show, you show your watercolor paintings and now with Jérémy and Dapott, your oil paintings... which is your favorite material?
Andreas: I am obsessed with painting with watercolor. I actually started with oil but now I am obsessed with watercolor. I love the spontaneous aspects of it. I love that whatever strokes I made will be recorded in the painting and there's no way I could polish it. It's raw, it's genuine, it is safer for the environment too. Water and ink based painting is also a very prominent part of Asian art culture. It was used to communicate things, as I'm doing now.
Anggrek: You once mentioned that with watercolor, it's crucial to trust yourself and paint quickly. Correcting mistakes on paper isn't easy, is it?
Andreas: Yes! Watercolor has a transparent characteristic and dries pretty fast. Every brushstroke that you lay down on paper will be noticeable. Depending on its quality, cotton paper can be unworkable in a short period of time if it's not stored in the right place, because it has gelatin components in it. So I feel like it's a medium that is less forgiving and requires a lot of techniques. Once you fully trust yourself and not doubting your strokes, there's nothing to be considered a mistake. Confidence is key.
Andreas: Korea plays a significant role in my artistic journey as I draw inspiration from many of their contemporary art styles. I'm particularly drawn to soft and gentle art styles, which I often find there, along with their day-to-day aesthetic. My experience of exhibiting in Zurich was equally incredible. I felt that people genuinely cared about the background stories of the paintings and were truly appreciative of the techniques I employed. It was a proud moment for me to show my watercolor paintings, a medium lately rarely seen. I was also delighted to engage in discussions with fellow artists and gain insights from their perspectives. This exchange added a lot of value to my artistic practice.
Anggrek: What has been the most rewarding part of your artistic journey?
Andreas: The most rewarding thing is that when people see my paintings (especially women), they feel seen, heard, and empowered. The paintings have given me a lot of trips abroad: warm hugs, deep conversation, and friendships.
Anggrek: As Asians, we have to talk about food! What is your favorite dish in Indonesia, and in Zurich? Also, does food inspire you? Has it inspired you? Will it inspire you?
Andreas: My favorite foods in Indonesia are probably Nasi Padang and Pecel Lele. They were the first things I looked forward to when I returned home from Zurich. In Zurich, I love how common potatoes are; in my opinion, potatoes will never disappoint. Oh, and also the strawberries and raspberries, which are not common here in Indonesia. For now, food has not been a direct source of inspiration for me, but perhaps someday it will be. After all, food holds a lot of memories and sentimental value. I am very open to the idea!