We’re very excited to be able to share this conversation with Kanoko Takaya. Not only an artist we’ve admired and had the good fortune to collaborate with for TEDxUbud, but also because she was the artist we asked to help bring our Loteria de Bali to life. Please enjoy this insight into her art and process.

When did you know that you wanted to become an artist?

When I was in kindergarten or early elementary school.

How did it start? Is there a specific memory that reminds you of the first time wanting it?

When I was a kid, my mom’s job required her to work in Bali too. So sometimes we visited Bali together. I usually spent time waiting for her at a cafe, drawing by myself. I had a sketchbook with me. I never drew something out of my imagination, it’s always been something in front of me.

One day, I had an ice milk tea and I drew it in my sketchbook. A guy walked past me and saw what I drew. He stopped and gave me a compliment. It was just a simple sketch a kid could draw. Then he returned to where I sat, brought his big painting and asked to trade it with my drawing. It turned out he was an artist! He said that he often traveled around Indonesia seeing kids’ drawings, but mine was one of his 3 favorites. Wahhh, I’m so happy. That was the first time someone from the art world gave me a compliment. He also asked for my signature. I just made my signature up and for the first time I felt I was an artist. This is my favorite story of my life. It seems like serendipity too because it happened in Ubud.

What would you do if you were not an artist now?

I never thought about it. Hmmm... I think I’ll still be in the creative industry. Maybe instead of painting, I would make art in different media or platforms.

Is there anything else you want to be or do? How is it going with Mosi Mosi (Kanoko’s clothing brand)?

I really want to have a solo exhibition at Museum Topeng (Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets). I can imagine myself exploring space and creating 3 dimensional artworks.

If the question is for my life in general, hmmm.. I never really have something I want to do as a hobby. It’s like when someone asks me if I like music, I’d say yes but nothing excites me like that.

Mosi-mosi is good! Mosi-mosi grows slowly and we enjoy the progress. We just signed new consignment deals with a shop in Bandung and a shop in Jakarta.

Oh I just remembered! I do have a hobby! Lately, I like doing yoga every morning and using sea salt for a body scrub! I just moved to a new house in Mengwi. We have a pendopo on the third floor and I always have my morning yoga there.

Also, I like nongkrong (hanging out). I like sharing and exchanging ideas with small circles, or just 1 or 2 friends instead of all at once. Just hang out and talk and chill.

Do you have a personal drawing journal?

1 day 1 drawing every day.

But lately, I rarely draw so thank you for reminding me. I used to draw every morning.

Which part of a collaboration process excites you the most?

Brainstorm! When the collaborators communicate their ideas. Sometimes, I find more things are actually interesting through brainstorming with other collaborators. It’s like an eureka moment. Also, when we complement each other’s ideas.

What does it look like to be Kanoko in her studio for a day?

Hmmm.. depending on the projects. It could be different. But I have a morning routine I like to keep. I wake up in the morning and do yoga. We have a small pool on the third floor and I like to jump into the cold water. It makes me feel alive and it’s an effective way to get my body up. Then, I continue with sea salt scrub and hot shower. I end it with meditation before starting to work.

I will do house chores if I have time after that. If not, I just go straight to work. Like yesterday, we finalized a 5 meter doll for a photo shoot so it was a pretty crowded day. In another time, I’m painting by myself.

I have 2 people assisting, an admin and a runner. They work until 5PM. But I don’t live by those rules, sometimes I will draw until 10PM. Sometimes I go to the market in the morning and cook at night… Cooking is tiring but it’s rewarding with a full happy tummy. I will be too lazy to do anything after that so I just hang out for a while and go to sleep after.

When you drew for Loteria and TEDxUbud, which part of the process you remember to be exciting the most?

When I drew for Loteria, I was so excited by the details. I was searching for characteristics of so many new things I didn’t know about or I didn’t pay attention to before. For example, when I asked you about pecalang, I browsed it and I didn’t realize pecalang is just in Bali. I think it’s cool. I learned a lot about Bali and Balinese from the little things I missed.

I was so excited to draw for TEDxUbud. I have so much respect for that project and Louise Despont, one of the speakers, is one of my idols. I drew the speakers’ and performers’ portraits. I really enjoyed the process because I got the chance to imagine how the person’s character is, what they were thinking about… It’s like I know it all by observing their facial expression and lines. When I watched and/or saw them in person, it turned out to be a surprise for me… oh, their expressions and character are actually a little bit different from what I imagined. It’s fun!

If you took Elami and Co to Japan, which season and important event should we not miss?

Kyoto Experiment! If I’m not mistaken, it is held every summer.

And definitely Naoshima! Imagine an island with different artworks exhibited. They will give you a map so you know where the artworks are. So you can explore the island and enjoy the artwork. One of the famous artworks is from Yayoi Kusama, it’s installed at the beach. Sometimes, you have to come into an ancient house to find artwork too. This annual festival is a must-visit. The island is also surrounded by small islands with limited boat schedules to cross. So you have to make sure you have the two-way ticket and watch your time. It’s like Nusa Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan only Naoshima is filled with art that is built close to the village.

I went there once when I was in college and want to go back. Especially because I have been creating more artworks now. I wonder how it feels to visit again.

What was the best experience you’ve had from your creative circle in Bali and/or Indonesia?

Pegang-pegang Exhibition in December 2020! I remember Sharon Angelia , my collaborator in the exhibition, and I had weekly meetings. We didn't talk about the concept or what we wanted to create. We shared things we were interested in during those weeks and responded to each other. Then we made a space and just put things together. Following ideas that just popped on our head, like a photoshoot with a man from a market. We made appointments and while waiting for the date to come, I made a costume for him. Also a photoshoot with a long-nailed man. He’s a tailor! He was cutting fabric when I visited him on shoot day. After the photoshoots were done, I continued to work on the chair.

The process started 3 months before the exhibition. That was the first time I worked with furniture experts. Definitely not easy to build a chair. I posted in my Instagram story that I need volunteers to help me. I mentioned that it would be dirty since they need to work with sandpaper and resin. I was surprised that some people DMed me and barely knew each other. There was one volunteer who came every day of a 9 days process. Woah, I thank him very much. I was also feeling a bit uneasy because I wanted to give something to him and I don’t know what and how. But it turned out to be a chill and fun process . We shared ideas and hung out at work. I gained so much from it. I learn how to work with people, communicate my ideas, how to keep the team focused and the process enjoyable. I was so focused on what I did too. The most pleasant thing was that friends came to the site to see the process, they shared it on social media, documented it, and helped! I feel supported.

After all the process, I can still remember how stiff my body was. I was so focused that I worked from 9AM to 10PM everyday. I just took a work day off on Sunday. I feel so cool that I could do that. I would never imagine my body can endure that much work. I was satisfied with the outcomes. The work quality could be much better, but its process has become a precious journey for me. And I feel it was enough. Sometimes I don’t know where to bring this feeling of excitement when the opening exhibition day comes. I still have the adrenaline rush from the process with me.

When I make an artwork, there are always stories and memories. But when they are installed, and people come and see them, I don’t feel the feeling is comparable to how the process was. That’s why I often question myself, do I create my art in an interactive way to accommodate the whole mood so as not to lose the euphoria? Or my art is not enough for me to feel the joy of having the exhibition because it hasn’t reached the most interactive way it could be? Or should I explore more at the exhibition event?! Like for example the festival on an island I mentioned before. I’d like to have an exhibition like that instead of in the white box installed on the wall. I want my art to be close to people.