It has been, like… 3 weeks (?) after my last post of having hospitalized due to an accident, and I can say that I’m recovering. I’m pretty happy with the progress, although I must admit there are some aspects that I have strong opinions on.
First is the cane. The walking cane. Or stick. Whatever. The walking cane was a two-edged sword. I enjoyed VIP treatments thanks to the walking stick. People looked at me with worry on oh how this young person (39 years old) needed a walking stick already, and it felt like Prophet Moses, you know? You walked, and the crowds in front of you dispersed to give you way.
(I still haven’t got the chance to go Gandalf-mode, though.)
The annoying side is how walking cane can be really restrictive. I’m clumsy, and I almost tripped on my feet and cane multiple times. I admit it was a great relief when I managed to walk with my own two feet and no walking cane involved.
Second is wound recovery, which means that you are recovering, hey, that’s great, but with wound recovery comes The Itch. That terrible, eating-you-from-the-inside, you-want-to-crawl-back-inside-you-and-scratch-it itch. Especially when I had to wear a wound bandage, and I had to hold myself not scratching it to avoid messing the bandage.
Also, if anyone wondering, it hurts more when sitting than standing.
Anyway! Things are waaaay better now, and I’m glad. Also, I went to Bandung last week. We had a long weekend, and Ari attended his campus reunion in Bandung. We stayed in Kartika Lodge, a B&B located on coffee plantations (they also produced their own coffee!) owned by our dear friends Aldo and Alfa. We also met with The Babybirds: Ing, Nyanya, Rinjani, and Gili.
Click for fuller image
I also recorded the trip using my Insta360 Go, but I have yet to find the motivation to edit the video. I will share it on this blog when I finish editing and uploading.
In case you are planning to go to Bandung and stay in Kartika Lodge, you can contact them on their Instagram: @kartikalodge and check their location:
Hi, Ing! Can you share a bit about yourself? Your preferred name to be known by the readers, the city/country you live in, your hobbies, anything!
Hey! My name is Ing (with a single “i”), and I have what people call “regular hobbies”: Reading and listening to music. I am currently living in Bandung with my wife and two kids. My main work is managing this small streetwear brand, WADEZIG!, with my friends in Bandung. I also have another creative project with my family titled “The Babybirds”.
I remember I recognized and connected with you from WADEZIG! brand, but it seems like even before WADEZIG!, you have been really active in Bandung’s creative community. How did you start it?
I have been interested in visual arts since I was young — since I was little, even. I “blame” the privileged little spoiled brat in me who spent his whole childhood life watching MTV channel and reading neverending magazine supplies and cassette album sleeves, so my attention always focused on the usuals that you can find on such media: Design, layout, photography composition, and many more.
When I explored outside my hometown and stepped foot in Bandung for college, I got into the underground music community, which was a huge hype then. I didn’t get into a drum or strumming some notes on guitars or any musical and performance aspect. I found myself “stuck” in one thing that interests me: designing flyers and posters for underground music events, cassette sleeves and covers for bands, and even becoming a free-to-hire event photographer!
Then, the Internet boom happened, and thanks to the huge interest in visual art, I dived into the World Wide Web. Seeing those beautiful website designs in all their glory and movements, I went, “WHOA, THIS IS AWESOME. WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?” 😆 It felt like a magazine, but it moved. It looked like MTV and magazine.
Thanks to that, graphic design was such a huge hit then, especially in Western countries. The problem was that Indonesia’s Internet connection wasn’t as good as today’s, so I became one of those early adopters who spent my monthly allowance hanging out in Internet cafés for days and being a part of an early adopter I got the opportunity to witness and saw trends starting out.
People used to see me as this– This bum, hanging out without reason in Internet cafés. In contrast, I hung out with the other early adopters on online design forums, chatted and discussed graphic designs, and learned design masters at work. Projects were born from those online communities, be they personal or collaborations. Some of us built design studios, some planned streetwear brands, and many others. I also love that some of us worked and built new communities and online forums — still within the art community but in a more specific way, for example, street art communities. From the number of communities that were born and developed, I happened to be involved in them. Also, the privilege of being an early adopter: Whatever we did, it looks cool to others 😆
I have a question about “distro”. In Indonesia, “distro” means a clothing store for local brands, and my general perception is that WADEZIG! is closely related to distro. What’s the difference between a distro and a regular clothing store? And how did Bandung come onto the map?
Distro is an acronym for “distribution outlet,” so literally, it means a store to distribute goods — in this case, clothing. I honestly don’t know who came up with the term, though! The concept is global; you can find indie clothing stores worldwide, but the name “distro” is only available here in Indonesia. Even in Malaysia and Singapore, the two countries closest to us, they call the stores as just, well, stores.
The trend started in Bandung, as this city used to — and still is — the start of indie bands. Each band has its own fanbase, and it generates the demand for the band to sell their merchandise. Naturally, the band needs a place, a channel, to sell the merchandise, thus, the stores. Remember, getting a decent Internet connection was tough, let alone doing e-commerce on an online marketplace!
One distro store opened, then another. Also, since it’s an indie band, a lot of the merchandise was made with DIY methods; folks designed and printed their own t-shirts and stickers. This culture of being independent/indie helped the trend for distro here in Bandung grow naturally and organically. Those good at design started to design for bands and other indie movements. Those who worked in the printing industry began to receive orders from music bands, and the ones who managed distro stores didn’t have a lot of problems fulfilling their inventories and stock because they always knew someone who would love to have their products showcased in the stores. Everything went just as naturally as possible.
All in all, the distro has a specific meaning: As a store, a channel that distributes and supplies indie brands within the community. Usually, distro stores refuse to sell established big-name brands. This kind of community spirit started to take a stronghold outside Bandung: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and even Malaysia, and Singapore. Even when the brands are starting to establish themselves, distro stores still carry the same spirit where it originates: Indie.
How about WADEZIG! brand?
WADEZIG! is not a distro store but a clothing brand. We started with two t-shirt designs (TWO!) and we produced each two dozen for each design, and… … … it was a failed start 😆
The printing quality was terrible, and the clothing material– I don’t even want to talk about it, hahah.
But it was alright! It was a learning point for us, and those shirts were sold at our friends’ distro stores. Our agreement basis is consignment: For every shirt that is sold, the store gets 15% consignment fee. Our shirts are visible and sold on distro stores, and the stores got the percentage fee: Everybody is happy.
Until now, WADEZIG! is still focusing on clothing and apparel. Where we started as a t-shirt only, we now have lines from top to toe — and we prefer to focus only on that area a.k.a. apparel. No intention to go to a completely different industry, such as coals and minings, nope.
Are there any product lines by WADEZIG! that becoming people’s favorite?
WADEZIG! started from graphic design community, so we always have been focusing on graphic t-shirts — and it’s still our top of the line, even up to now.
The t-shirts with the highest fanbase and have been around for the longest usually those with the, uhhh, weird visuals. I mean, even up to a point we produce them because we have to, not because we wanted to 😅 Case in point, a t-shirt with only a typography: JERUSALEM.
From what I see here, distro stores can be considered as local business, considering the vendors, suppliers, designers, and producers are all from Indonesia. How do you maintain your communities and customer base for the local apparel industry?
Yesss, the main spirit of distro stores and indie clothing brand like this is indie and local-based. Also yes, there are brands who imported their blank products from China and put the label here, but you get the gist: The brand is local.
Just like the “Go Local”/”Support Local”-movements in other countries, we are moving along with the spirit. This is a local brand! The tailor is a guy named Asep, who lives in Garut, West Java. The staff handling the printer is a guy named Sidik from Ciharugeulis. The materials are purchased from a wholesale center in Cigondewah. The brand owner is your local regular guy from Bandung! If you purchase from us and support our brand, you are helping people like Asep, Sidik, and people in Cigondewah to sustain and lead their lives. Meanwhile, buying Volcom or Quiksilver might only “help” some faceless millionaires enjoying their time surfing in Australia. Even before we talked about slow fashion, we had been into it for a long time: We only produced several dozen for each design and distributed it all over Indonesia. The indie brands’ scope in quantity is nothing compared to how vast ZARA and H&M are, and I said it in the best way possible and with my utmost respect.
There was even a time when these imported surfing brand stores had to close their stores in Bandung, thanks to this local clothing movement, haha. This made me feel that no matter how cliché it might sound, the spirit of “supporting your local brand” actually leaves an impression.
A lot of our customers were actually people within our circles, those same faces all over again, as we shared the same vision — but then, folks outside the circles started to get interested in this movement, and it’s such a welcoming situation.
Other than WADEZIG!, I noticed you have been really active in mural communities. This is something that is really new for me, and I’m curious: How do you join the community? And how does this community work/operate? How do you connect with others and fellow artists?
I need to correct you on this: I am specifically active on the street art community, and the mural is a part of this one big community as a form of street art other than graffiti, wheatpaste, and others 🙂
Just like I mentioned before, I have been active in the art and design forums and communities since the 2000s. Social media did not even exist at that time, so we all hung out in online forums or group chats. Within this design forum, I met friends with similar interests in street art, and from there, we created a new online forum for street art named Tembokbomber. Our idea was simple: We wanted Tembokbomber to be a safe space for everyone interested in street art, whether artists or the consumers. Street art tends to be “quickly forgotten” because it’s really easy to “go”/delete as it’s on the streets, and it can be wiped, erased, covered, or vandalized by others at any time, and one of our goals is to document the street artworks so people can enjoy it longer. Due to the open community, whoever had artwork they want to showcase, they can always send the documentations and the pictures to be posted on the blog or forum topic. Unfortunately, Tembokbomber forum and blog are no longer there–
Oh, boo!
😆 Also, I don’t think we are now using online forums as much as we did back then. However, many of its members are still actively contributing and working within the creative communities. Some of them even became full-time artists and made their names internationally. The community itself is still open based on friendship and shared interests. We don’t have legally and formally binding organization like IAI (Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia/Indonesian Institute of Architects) or ADGI (Asosiasi Desain Grafis Indonesia/Indonesian Association of Graphic Designers.) Street art itself is still considered in grey areas: Borderline legal and illegal. Even considering the artworks as “art” itself is still debatable.
Last question: Things might not be as… how it was, but even now, in 2024, there are still certain perceptions among older generations and our parents that working in the creative industry tends to be risky and less stable than with others. As you are a father of two AND someone working in the creative industry, what do you think and feel about it?
Ooooh. This reminds me.
I was in my first semester in college, and my major was Graphics Design. When I was home for a term break, my mom asked me:
“What was your major, the one you told me– I forgot…”
“It’s Graphics Design, mum.”
“I see. What are you doing with graphics design? Like, what are you working on?”
“Well, I design magazines. I can also design websites–“
I haven’t finished my explanation when my dad replied, “naaaah, there is no need for us to ask. We won’t understand this kind of line of work anyway.”
I guess the takeaways are: My parents never really restricted me on what majors or line of works I wanted to take. Even after finished a semester, they still asked me what I do because they never really went into micromanaging my education, hahah. Also, they understood that things change. New job opportunities are coming from new technology and developments, and those who used to be around might be irrelevant in, say, 1-2 years. For them (my parents,) their main focus was to trust me as their child to make my own path according to what life leads me. They knew that as parents, the main “task” was to support the children.
I’m part of the lucky bunch who had parents as chill and as supportive as they are — hence, watching MTV all day long 😆 — so I didn’t find myself affected by how most parents perceive the creative industry. For me, as a parent, each job and profession comes with its good and bad things, and for me, it depends on your interests and talents. Maaaaaybe the profession in graphics design will be extinct in 10-20 years, replaced by AI? Or, well, the professions and job opportunities for my kids are yet to be available now, but they will be later? So, yeah, for me, just let the kids choose and make their path.
My husband called it a “freak accident”. We were on our way to our usual cafe in the Bangsar area when I slipped and fell — and somehow, even up to today, I didn’t know what made me slipped and fell. Whenever people asked, my answer has always been: “I walked, I fell… et voila!”
Everything was alright except my right knee. My knee was cut open, leaving a huge gnash. Interestingly, though, my pants are alright. It felt like something specifically “attacked” my knee 😅
Anyway! We went to the ER and the medical team decided that considering how huge the wound was, they need an orthopaedic to work on the wound with me under general anaesthesia.
I had to stay in the ER section for a couple of hours while the admins are getting me a room/ward. At first, we thought we could get me to the surgery room ASAP, but then since the doctor was not ready yet, I got my lunch.
I’m generally okay with everything. I didn’t suffer any wounds or bruises on any other areas of my body (like I said, only the right knee took the cut ?) and I could still respond to everything. What I hated most was: The IV. And the blood test. I hate syringes. With all my might. I asked the staff, “the one that got hurt is my knee but why do I have to wear IV too? 🗿” They explained to me that the IV is to keep me hydrated and to make it easier for them to administer medicine — which, it hurts like hell.
My mortal enemy
Come afternoon, I got moved to my room. It was 30 minutes later when the nurse entered and commented, “if you want, we can do the surgery right now,” which… hell yeah.
I got rolled down to the surgery room and they gave me the anaesthetic — BEST SLEEP EVER.
I got woken up from a sleep that felt just like 5 minutes, and got wheeled up again to my room and I spent the next 2-3 hours sleeping. I finally gained full consciousness at 10 PM, and I spent time scrolling Tiktok and IG Reels until 2:30 AM.
On the next day, I had a visit to the doctor/orthopaedic and he informed me that I’m terribly lucky. “Your knee only suffer from the wound. Your tendons are all alright.” According to him, I should be alright after 2-3 weeks ? The only problem is that I couldn’t do my usual exercise for the duration of my recovery — oh well, see you later, cats.
And now I’m home and I’m using this.
I feel like Ian McKellen’s character (Sir Leigh Teabing) in “The Da Vinci Code” movie. “AH, ROBERT! WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?!” 😆
Can you share a bit about yourself? Your preferred name to be known by the readers, the city/country you are currently living in, your hobbies, anything!
My name is Rizky Kristianti, my students call me Miss Kiki, and you can call me Kiki. I have lived in Solo since I was almost one year old, until today in my 42 year-old age. I like to read fanfics filled with beautiful love stories about beautiful people. I also like doing craft things like making beads, jewelry, and simple sewing like altering shirts, embroidering, and many more.
How did you start your career as an educator?
I was in my 7th semester studying English Major in Education and Teaching Faculty in Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta when I met a friend I know from (one of) English Speaking Clubs in Solo.
He told me that there is a recruitment for part-time teachers in LBPP-LIA Surakarta. The process was long, and as the only candidate who hadn’t graduated from university yet, I was considered as the dark horse; but from more than 300 applicants, only 6 passed the recruitment process, and I was one of them!
It was September 2003. The salary and the working hours were not great, but I learned how to be a teacher from the experience. They gave us back-breaking training, from 8AM to 5PM, for 5 weeks before we were allowed to meet the students in class. I learned how to teach students as young as 6 years old to the oldest student, 50 years old.
After 2 years of working and, well, abandoning my main duty as a college student, I took 3-months’ leave and worked on my final paper in college (skripsi) and graduated in December 2005. In January 2006, there was an opening for the Indonesian Civil Servant National Exam, and my mom suggested I apply.
I took the exam in February, received news that I passed the exam in March, filled out all the administration papers in April, and stepped foot in the school I was assigned to in May 2006. It means I have worked in the same school for over 17 years! Time went by so fast.
Rizky and her students
There is a general perception in the public that teenagers can be tricky and rebellious to deal with (their mood swings, thinking they should be considered as adults/refusing to be seen as underage, etc.) How do you, as a teacher, handle it? How do you work with your students and at the same time give them enough autonomy to them?
Being a teacher in high school, I always put myself in the perspective of a big sister. I try to help them find the answers to their own questions, giving them a helpful hand when they ask for it, letting them know how society works and what they can do about it.
Teenagers are tricky to deal with and rebellious; that is correct. They are scary, sometimes. But since I put myself in the position of a big sister, for some reason, they are more willing to open their heart to me than to their parents.
What was the trickiest concept you ever taught to your students?
One of the trickiest concept I teach my student is inclusivity.
I have had students coming out to me. They asked me for advice on how to deal with the mockery and insult from their classmates and peers (sometimes their teachers too, which is sad). I told them that I am an ally, that they can come to me when they face problem that is caused by sexuality, that if they need I can be the ears to listen to them.
I try to make my students understand about inclusivity by using them in the materials that I teach. The easiest way is to use it during grammar lessons. Explaining about pronouns can lead to discussions, sometimes we have arguments (not real, just a friendly banter, but we were quite loud), but no matter what I try to make a safe space for them to say whatever in my class.
During some lessons, I tell them stories, or they tell me stories that they find in social media. It might start with them telling me, “Miss, have you seen the new meme about this?” to end with a discussion on toxic masculinity, or how public try to demonize feminism concept.
Many of my students don’t have a chance to travel abroad, so they like to ask me, “Miss, when you were in this country, did you get racist treatment?” then we discuss about why people can be racist and how to deal with it. They will share what they know, I share what I know, and we learn together from it.
How do you align your values and thoughts with other teachers to ensure the students grow their mindset and become wholesome adults?
Most of my colleagues were from the older generations when I started to work there. They have the old-time concept of how teachers do their job, so I rebelled quietly. It can be tricky to change old-time thinking, but I found out that they are willing to listen if we are in the right mood for it. I treated them like I treated my students. I tell them stories, and then we have these discussions. I ask them questions, and when they struggle to give me satisfying answers, that is when they realize that their mindset is no longer working for today.
It took 17 years for me to plant the idea that it is okay to have a girl as an OSIS (Student Council) leader. I even had a heated discussion about it with one of my colleagues. But we finally won! We have the first girl as OSIS leader.
We still have differrent opinions, but I believe that my colleagues only want the best things for our students. We only do what we can, and we pray for the best results.
If you could teach another class other than English, what would it be?
In the new curriculum, we have a new subject, Pendidikan Ketrampilan dan Kewirausahaan, where we teach craftwork using scientific methods. Sometimes, I join the class, and I find it very interesting. I want to teach craft-making; maybe it will be less stressful than teaching English, hopefully!
Nindya. Kapkap. she/her. Indonesian in Malaysia. Millennial. Lo-fi. Post-Rock. Gregorian. Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Murder mystery genre. “Love is Love“.
This is my personal blog, so anything goes. This blog has been around since 2014, which means you would, and could, see my past writings with different perspectives and mindsets at that time. This blog is a record-keeping of what I was, what I am, and what I will be. What I wrote in the past might not reflect who I am right now, nor me revisiting the topic.
While things here are generally PG-13, I must remind you that I’m an adult, which means some topics might be too heavy for younger readers.
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