Andi Sules

1973

Andi Sules was born in Yogyakarta, the artist draws inspiration from the region's rich cultural landscape. Influenced by surrealist and realist painters like Ivan Sagito and Dullah, he developed a passion for detailed, element-rich works. He defines success by public appreciation and the ability to support his life through art. Art has shaped his career, from freelance mural work to a professional role in interior design. Educated at ISI Yogyakarta, he continues to experiment and evolve, aspiring to hold a solo exhibition. His work blends personal reflections with visual storytelling, capturing meaningful moments while fostering dialogue with viewers. For him, art is an ongoing exploration, and he believes galleries are vital in expanding his reach. His guiding philosophy is, "Art is an endless aesthetic process; it dies when it finds an answer."

Inquiry

get to know the artist

Interview with Andi Sules

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I was born in Magelang in a village on the slopes of Mount Merapi which borders the province of Yogyakarta, starting from junior high school, high school to college I moved to Yogyakarta which is a city of students, art and culture. Social diversity, the transition of traditional and modern life, natural wealth, have a big influence on pursuing the arts, especially painting.

Who are your biggest artistic influences?

I’ve loved painting since childhood but became serious after attending the annual Yogyakarta Arts Festival. Inspired by surrealists like Ivan Sagito and realists like Dullah, I honed my skills with senior painters before studying at ISI Yogyakarta.

How do you define success as an artist?

For me, the success of an artist is when his artwork is appreciated by many people, his ideas and techniques become a topic of discussion and his work can be economically useful, to support daily needs and support the arts.

How do you develop your art skills?

I developed my skills by going to art school, here we learned a lot not only from the supervising lecturers but also interacted with fellow students and established artists at that time, plus books and learning via the internet about developments in world art.

Describe your dream project.

I would like to hold a solo exhibition project with current and new style works in a representative place.

What is the main inspiration behind your latest artwork?

My latest inspiration is painting—an effort to preserve valuable moments for commemoration, expression, communication, and therapy. I blend fragments of objects, events, and places into montages, creating new narratives through my aesthetic language.

Is there a specific theme or message that you want to convey through your artwork?

The special message that I want to convey is that a work of art is a narrative, an aesthetic dialogue that can subjectively become a spirit for those who enjoy it.

How would you describe your creative process? Is there a special technique or medium that you use?

My creative process begins when I have an idea as the basis for creating a work, in the middle of that process supporting ideas often emerge, techniques that are unintentional but give an artistic effect, well this is where I intuitively develop it until a work is created.

How do you overcome challenges in creating art?

Continuity in creating works is a challenge, increasing age, increasingly divided time and increasing life needs are real things that must be faced and can only be overcome with a consistent/maintained artistic spirit.

As an artist, what is your favorite quote?

"Art is a never-ending aesthetic process, it will die when it gets the answer."