'Mimpi‑Mimpi' Exhibition Transforms Dreams into Art Across Generations

Mimpi‑Mimpi marks CAA’s third major exhibition. The first in 2023 explored Depiction, while the 2024 edition centered on Nawasena, a Javanese term symbolizing a bright future. This year’s showcase differs not only for its wider age range but also for its variety of media.

While earlier exhibitions focused on works on paper, several pieces this year are painted on canvas. The academy continues to emphasize two‑dimensional art, with no three‑dimensional works included.

The exhibition blends dream‑inspired pieces with observational studies produced in the studio. CAA stresses fundamental skills: still‑life drawing, observation, light and shadow, proportion, color mixing, and composition. These realist foundations provide a visual language through which artists communicate imaginative ideas and personal narratives.

Many works stem directly from remembered dreams: giant ladybugs, people riding lobsters, sharks, and elaborate food scenes. Visitors can also read accompanying descriptions, offering insight into the memories behind each piece.

“Dreams can be completely random, and many of these works reflect that randomness. We hope visitors enjoy the exhibition, reconnect with their own dreams, and perhaps become interested in joining our classes or workshops,” Ananta added.

Complementing the exhibition, CAA will host workshops from October 2 to 4, including pillow‑shaped postcard making, live drawing sessions with a model, and flower‑vase‑inspired bookmark creation.

For founder and head Chandra Rosselinni, the exhibition is also a celebration of student achievement. “As teachers, this exhibition is one way for us to appreciate the students’ artworks. We want to provide a space where they can present the pieces they have created in the studio,” she said.

Founded in 2018 and opened to the public in 2021, the Bangunjiwo, Bantul‑based studio has drawn students from across regions, including Salatiga in Central Java, as well as international participants. Some travel from outside Yogyakarta to attend classes, while others -- such as students from the Netherlands -- join during visits.

Beyond hobby classes, the academy offers fundamental art training and portfolio preparation for students pursuing higher education in visual arts and animation. Alumni have continued their studies at institutions including Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), and universities in the United States.

Among the featured artists is 16‑year‑old Lidwina Amara, known as Ara, whose work Everyone Wants to Eat Well interprets the dream theme through food. “The first thing I think about when I hear the word dream is being able to enjoy good food," she said.

"In a busy world, everyone needs simple moments of happiness, and food is one way to experience that,” she added.

Her mixed‑canvas piece combines images of udon and gyoza, foods she enjoys personally while also representing something universal. Ara spent around 12 hours over four sessions completing the work and is preparing a portfolio for future studies at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI).

Another participant, 14‑year‑old Eliasz Smieszek, who has Polish‑Indonesian heritage and has studied at CAA since 2021, presents surrealist‑inspired works with Polish titles. One depicts a ladybug covered with multiple eyes.

“I wanted to create something surreal. I saw images of animals with many eyes and became inspired to apply that idea to a ladybug. The eyes symbolize seeing hidden things,” Eliasz shared.

His fascination with food also appears in his work, evolving from an earlier sushi drawing that received positive feedback and inspired further food‑themed pieces.

Through whimsical creatures, comforting meals, and surreal dreamscapes, Mimpi‑Mimpi offers a glimpse into the imaginations of artists across generations, demonstrating how artistic fundamentals can transform personal memories and dreams into visual narratives. ***