Rani Lawson was a participant in the 2018 Creative Arts and Design Professional Practicum from the University of South Australia. Rani is studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in Painting. Rani received a $3,000 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to support her participation in this program.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake ACICIS’ Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum?
I was unsure of the career direction I wanted to take after my University degree in visual arts, but I knew I wanted to travel. An internship in Indonesia seemed like a great learning experience in working with another culture and getting a different perspective on the arts industry.
Q: How will the Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum benefit or influence your future career?
Completing this program has provided me with new inspiration for my current projects and future endeavours. It has shown me how versatile a career in the arts can be and has enabled me to create a strong network of connections in Jakarta.
Q: Which organisation did you intern with? What were your roles and responsibilities?
I was placed with Grafis Huru Hara (GHH), a printmaking collective based in Jakarta. My work placement became more of an artist’s residency, with freedom to create my own body of work, use all studio facilities, learn different printmaking techniques, teach and assist with technique workshops and online tutorials, and host an overall collaborative exhibition with the GHH team.
Q: How did you find the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
My personal approach to making art has changed enormously since working with GHH. The team has exposed me to the benefits of working as a collaboration and how great art does not need to be expensive to produce.
Q: Would you like to return to work in Indonesia again in future?
Absolutely! In Australia we are so privileged with the amount of resources and government funding we receive as young artists. Seeing how young artists here work with the resources they have at hand is inspiring.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Indonesia?
One of the downsides to working in a creative industry is the unpredictable work hours. Because of this, we rarely were able to take a day off during the work week. So, no weekend trips to Bandung – but we were instead able to accomplish a great deal more with the GHH team by being open to working long days.
Q: Favourite place to eat and favourite Indonesian food?
Gado-gado! A small street vendor close to our workplace made the best Gado-gado but would always sell out before the afternoon.
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase?
On the record: mantap!
Off the record: the versatility of Anjing