Made in Java
Since childhood, I have had a deep appreciation for postal correspondence. This inspired me to collect postage stamps and vintage labels. I found their nostalgic charms intriguing. This is how my path to visual art started. I have an innate gift for spotting extraordinary beauty in the seemingly mundane. My passion is to share this perspective with others, so they can learn to see familiar things with new eyes. Java is a hidden gem, which still sparkles despite the ignorance and indifference of the world. All the tumultuous challenges I have faced here in realising my dreams can never eclipse the many wonderful moments I have experienced. I have long dreamt of sending letters stamped “Made in Java” to the world. Eventually, this became my work. My job is to dream all day about this topic. This collection is a retrospective of rediscovering myself in Java through illustrations. –Melissa Sunjaya