In the gentle hush of creation, Dodi Nursaiman unfurls wings of imagination, soaring where dreams weave into the heartbeat of existence. “Let the work speak for itself,” he murmurs, his art a tapestry unbound by fleeting praise or piercing critique. From the boundless wonder of his children—conjuring magic with playful gel and magnets—to the delicate precision of nurses threading order through chaos, he gathers poetry from life’s quiet moments. Anchored in the vibrant motifs of Sundanese culture, Dodi finds art in every gesture, every hue, believing imagination to be the soul’s flight across a shared sky of eight billion dreams. His creative dance begins in stillness, a sacred pause where colors whisper and ideas take wing, free from the confines of rigid doctrines. Each dawn, he asks, “Why did I wake up today?”—a spark that ignites his creations and invites us to glide through the endless meadows of our own minds. Come, let us begin this interview with the artist.
For those who don’t know you yet, how would you introduce yourself—beyond titles and roles?
Thanks so much for trusting me to be part of this magazine’s journey — it really means a lot, and I hope it can grow into something meaningful in the long run. Tough opening question! Honestly, I’m not really good at socializing with a lot of people, and I have plenty of limitations and gaps in knowledge… so the best way for me to introduce myself is simply by making use of what I have — and one of those is through creating. I live by this principle: “Let the work speak for itself.” Whatever the form, material, or technique, what matters is doing my best in the process and letting people interact with the work. Maybe that’s the best way to introduce myself 🙂 I don’t really care too much about what people say about me or my work. If it’s something good, I’ll keep it. If it’s a critique, I’ll reflect on it and use it as consideration.
What’s something outside the art world that deeply influences your work, even if it’s unexpected?
In the past few years, I’ve been paying a lot more attention to different things — nature, people’s traits, habits, and behaviors around me. One of the most inspiring sources has been my own kids, who are now 9 and 14. They’re always doing these magical little things, like listening closely to sounds, experimenting with slime, magnets, or basically anything they can get their hands on. What fascinates me is how what they see visually can be completely different from what they’re actually imagining. That’s when I realized — that’s imagination. On the other hand, I once observed how nurses work — how carefully they prepare every tool to support the doctor. The way they organize everything so systematically in pursuit of perfection really amazed me. Linking this back to what I said earlier about paying attention to my surroundings— I’ve come to believe that everything is art. And art begins with imagination. Thinking and imagining are like open spaces — unpredictable and impossible for anyone to interfere with. And imagination itself is really just the crystallization of experiences, feelings, and knowledge.
When you start a new creative process, what’s the first thing you always do, no matter the project?
“Contemplation — haha. Before I start creating something, the first step I take is simply to be still. Sometimes it’s just for a moment, other times it can take days. It’s my way of fully bringing my thoughts, feelings, and even my body into whatever I’m about to make. The next step is to visualize it.
Do colors speak to you before you choose them, or do they reveal themselves only in the act of creating?
That’s an interesting question… and honestly, I’ve never been asked this before. I once tried to really understand different color theories and apply them to some of my works. Unfortunately, it only trapped me inside the theories and the thoughts of others — the theorists themselves. I tried several times with different approaches, but the result was always the same: I ended up stuck in someone else’s version of the truth. At some point, I asked myself: Where do I stand in all of this? What’s my role in my own work? Am I just a backward human who can only act as a follower of other people’s theories, or the theories created by those before me? Since then, I’ve stopped relying too much on other people’s theories. Instead, I just enjoy the dialogue between myself and the colors I bring into every corner of my work. If something feels uncomfortable, I don’t hesitate to switch it with another color. Is this what people mean when they say colors ‘speak’ to me? Maybe that’s exactly what it is.
What emotion or energy do you wish people to feel when they look at your work?
I don’t really think too much about that. I’d rather give people the freedom to feel it in their own way, through their own thoughts and imagination. I’m just grateful there are people who can appreciate what I create — that already means a lot. And if some don’t like it or feel uncomfortable, that’s totally fine too. Let them feel whatever they need to feel.
What’s something you believe in deeply, that silently guides your creative choices?
Hmm… I once mentioned this in an interview about the creative process — I believe there are two important foundations we need to truly enjoy the journey of life, including making art. The first is Belief. Everyone needs to have belief — belief in themselves. And that belief should be rooted in knowledge. So, go out and seek knowledge, enjoy it in any form: listening to podcasts, music, traveling, reflecting — there are so many ways to gain insights that can strengthen your confidence. The second is Culture. Never forget culture. For me, culture is the root of life. I was born into a Sundanese family in Indonesia, and I try to understand my cultural heritage while also adapting to the present. A clear example is traditional crafts, where every pattern carries a message and meaning. Or stained glass art, where every line and shape symbolizes something deeper. Even traditional food, where every form often holds symbolic meaning. These are the things I try to learn. Oops… but don’t get me wrong — I’m still learning. I don’t claim to know it all!
How do you personally define “originality” in today’s creative world?
I always remind myself — even back in class — that originality is about the journey: the process of creating and staying consistent in enjoying that journey. In other words, originality is about personal identity. And if in the end there happens to be some similarity in ideas or final results, that’s totally fine… We’re all living under the same sky with 8 billion other people. 🙂
What part of your artistic journey still surprises you today?
Some people have asked how I actually create — even this interview kind of surprised me. Why me? Why not someone else? Honestly, the most surprising part of my journey so far has been a person named Behnam Raeesian. But on the other hand, I’m really grateful. There are people who trust me and keep coming back to collaborate on their projects — even though I never asked them to. All I do is keep creating and enjoy the ride of life. In Javanese philosophy, humans are meant to keep moving.
In your opinion, what’s something the creative world needs more of—and what should it let go of?
This is a really important question for the current and future generations. What’s often missing in today’s creative world is the involvement of the whole body in the process of making art — and in the long run, that’s what kills creativity. By ‘body involvement,’ I mean simple things: tilting your head while drawing a line, carefully arranging tiny elements, placing dots one by one into a carved pattern… those intimate, physical gestures are disappearing, or even losing the dialogue with the work itself. I see this kind of body involvement as the formation of a ‘self-technology,’ which I believe is what’s most needed in today’s creative world. Nowadays, this has largely been replaced by the function and role of technology. Schools often treat modern tech as the ultimate sign of progress, but they tend to forget the technology of the self.
And finally, what’s something you’ve never said in an interview, but always wished you could?
Hmm… I always try to remind myself to make it a habit — asking myself every time I wake up: Why did I wake up today? What am I going to do? And how will I make it happen? Also, what’s the meaning and benefit of what I’m about to do, or what I’ve already done, for myself and for others. That’s it.
Connect with Dodi Nursaiman:
Instagram:@dodinursaimanwork
Facebook : dodi.nursaiman
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Curious about what inspires today’s artists?
Jeff Robb: Whispers of Luminous Dreams
Caroline Brisset’s Whispered Grace in Metal
