Head Over Heart

Where are you from and why did you move to Singapore?
I’m from Surabaya, Indonesia and I moved to Singapore two years ago to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, now under the University of the Arts Singapore.

Share with us more about your field of study. Why did you decide to pursue this course?
I’ve always been interested in the arts, but quickly realised that a job as an illustrator or artist might not be the most feasible for me.

At the time, I was leading the media team in the student council and other organisations in school, and dabbled in graphic design, social media, and art direction. Since then, I’ve been gravitating towards this field as I think it’s a more practical career choice for me. That’s why I’m currently studying Design Practice with a specialisation in the communications domain.

What do you miss most about home?
Definitely the food as the cuisine here is very different from what I’m used to back home! My favourite Indonesian food is rawon, a type of beef brisket stew.

Outside of school, how do you spend your time?
I really enjoy arts and crafts! In my free time, I like to made beaded necklaces and work on personal projects just for fun, such as designing posters.

I also recently started playing the bass guitar. I hope to get better so I can go for more jamming sessions with my friends.

Apart from that, I enjoy thrifting as well, but I don’t do it as often now.

Where are some of your favourite thrift spots in Singapore?
Lucky Plaza, hands down! The clothes there are cheap and you can discover many things there. I also like to alter the pieces that I thrift—I cut them up and sew them back together for mismatched and unique looks. Since I got them cheap, I don’t feel the ache when tear them apart (laughs).

That said, I really want to properly pick up sewing as I really enjoy styling myself and dressing up. I already have a sewing machine from my grandma, so I just need to sit down and actually learn how to use it.