abi simatupang

interview by kelly hardi // photographs by franklin lee

Introduction

I’m Abi Simatupang. My pronouns are They/She and I’m in my third year as a Communication Design Student. I define my practice as an interdisciplinary approach towards graphic design + illustration and writing. 

What was the earliest influence you had with art, and, was there, a particular reason or incident or episode that led you to choose to major in Communication Design?

Ever since I was young, I liked to draw on walls—very cliche. But I've always been interested in many parts of the entertainment industry back then, including novels and fiction. A big driver was BTS at one point. So, that was kind of when I started to hone in on the art side. I realized out of all of my interests, [art has] been one of the more prominent ones.

With graphic design specifically, I think up until my first year of university, I was still debating whether I should focus on graphic design or illustration. I’ve always been particular about, for example, designing power presentations for school, so design has always been an interest. But, I wasn’t sure if [design] was what I wanted to do professionally. At the same time, I remembered the reason why I came to Emily Carr, which was because of my aunt who also did graphic design. I remembered how much I enjoyed her work and I eventually told myself “You know what? You can just focus on graphic design. Even if you can't do, for example, photography or motion graphics just yet. You already have a good set of skills in the design area to build something out of it.” And so far it’s been going great—the plan works out!

How does interdisciplinary come into your practice?

I think of interdisciplinarity more about what kinds of work I do. There's of course the medium aspect of it where I did printmaking or more analog ways of drawing but as of currently, I’m focusing more on the storytelling aspect of it through a poetic approach and integrating it with the designs I create. In my art, it’s very much trying to make connections from everything around me and everything that interests me. Whether it be a short comic or a poster, I don’t think I’ve made something purely because I was interested in just its visuals. For me, a story needs to be within it or at least include some level of meaning to it. That’s also where my writing comes in or even illustrations. So really, that’s why my practice is considerably interdisciplinary. It gives me the flexibility in exploration that I need. 

How do you think your art and design have helped you navigate themes of youth, Indonesian culture, and your experience as a queer person?

It’s kind of like journaling for me. It definitely helps me figure out what I’m feeling. I don't know if this is a very common experience but most of the time I don't necessarily know what I'm feeling or I don't necessarily know what I'm thinking. It just feels off or it just feels different. Through poetry especially, I can structure everything in my mind and put it outwards. Specifically with my queerness and being Indonesian, both of which are identities that I struggle with, I find that my work is useful because I’ve not only made something unique in that scope but I also have hope that there is someone who looks at my work and goes, “Oh! A Queer Indonesian exists!”. I hope my work reassures them that it is fine to be confused between those two identities and still embrace them. 

With that said, how does ‘Dear Diary’ relate to you and/or your practice?

As mentioned, I often can’t help but bring in the personal into my work. I love to make poems and short comics about the people I love and the experiences that have shaped me; the good and the bad, as raw and real as possible. I think similar to how in keeping a diary you can track how you grow as a person, through my work you can see the progression of my personality. And I think that’s pretty neat.

What’s the main thing you’d like your art to be known or remembered for?

I want my art to be an honest representation of myself. I want for people to see my art and think, “Abi did that!”. I don’t necessarily have a specific message that I want spread out but it’s more of what I want people to know that I have a hand in. I want people to be able to see that people like me, Indonesian and queer, who historically have been marginalized, actually have a voice. 

Then, how far do you think your art has become that? And if you were to write a diary entry for your younger self to read about this, what would it be?

Hmm… I’d say I still have a long way ahead, but what I’d tell my younger self is that we’ve come nearer to being there than we’ve ever been before. Other than actually going through my body of work, I like thinking about just how much confidence and self-esteem I’ve built over the past few years, both through my practice or otherwise, and the amount of people I’ve built strong connections with through that. I think telling maybe 5-year old Abi would make them giggle with excitement, and 15-year old Abi cry over the fact that we can feel this loved and this living in our work.

How has it been being part of WOO?

I find being in WOO pretty amazing and fun! I love the team and I love the free snacks. I think it made me realize just how much I love books and publications specifically. It’s a space outside of class where I’m given a chance to do projects that are both interesting to me and also publicized to a bigger community. 

Anything else you’d like people to know about you, your practice, or your thoughts on ‘Dear Diary’?

Grab a copy, folks. It’ll be so good so grab one!! And share ‘Dear Diary’ with your loved ones. Read it in a circle. Experience each other vulnerabilities and give a loving hug after. I hope in the days after reading it the hugs will be never-ending.

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