Mella Jaarsma's Dutch exhibition contrasts with her Indonesian-focused career

Mella Jaarsma has recently launched her most significant exhibition in the Netherlands, her birthplace, yet her artwork is infrequently displayed in Dutch institutions despite her nearly forty-year artistic journey. Since 1985, she has resided in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, having moved there permanently after visiting her parents in Jakarta during her studies. Her creative endeavors encompass costumes, performance, painting, and drawing, with a strong focus on Indonesian social and political themes. Jaarsma's initial research delved into shadow concepts from Javanese wayang kulit puppetry, influenced by Yogyakarta's vibrant culture. European audiences are only now starting to reconnect with Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, previously colonized by the Netherlands. The differences between her Dutch upbringing and Indonesian experiences led her to finish her final academic year at the Jakarta Art Institute, where her work evolved into a medium for spiritual, philosophical, and social exploration.