Singapore, 31st July 2026 — Febri Anugerah, a student of the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Master Program (PSPSR), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was selected as one of Indonesia’s delegates at the Tropical Lab Singapore 2026 International Art Camp, an international art program organized by LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore, from 16th – 31st July 2026.
Tropical Lab 2026 brought together 22 master’s and doctoral students in the arts from various countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, India, Serbia, and South Africa. Under the theme “Terra,” the program invited participants to explore and reflect on the Earth from diverse perspectives, encompassing material, ecological, social, and political dimensions.
Over the course of two weeks, participants took part in a series of activities, including studio and gallery visits, seminars, discussions with international artists and curators, artistic practice presentations, and studio-based work to develop their artworks. The program served as a platform for cross-border exchange of ideas and artistic experiences and bringing together diverse perspectives on environmental issues and human life.
During the program, Febri introduced his artistic practice, exploring the relationship of humans, space, the environment, and local Indonesian knowledge. He subsequently developed an artwork titled Terra, utilizing upcycled plastic and leftover materials from the LASALLE studio.
The artwork Terra drew inspiration from the Javanese philosophy “Memayu Hayuning Bawana,” a worldview that emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony and the sustainability of life. In the artwork, Febri presents a representation of a tembesu leaf (Fagraea fragrans) made from clay inside a transparent tube, accompanied by forms of birds, landscapes, and shoots created using upcycled plastic.
The exploration of materials serves as an important element of Febri’s artistic concept. The work reflects the paradox of humanity’s desire to understand and care for nature and the increasingly pervasive presence of synthetic materials in everyday life.
“Through Terra, I seek to reconsider the relationship of humans and nature through materials that themselves emerge from ecological issues. The use of upcycled plastic is a way to question how materials considered waste can acquire new life and meaning with artistic practice,” Febri said.
The creative process was not carried out solely on an individual basis but also evolved on dialogue with participants, artists, academics, and curators from various countries. These interactions provided Febri with an opportunity to further develop and contextualize his artistic ideas while gaining new perspectives on contemporary art practices.
The program culminated in a final exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore (ICAS) on 31st July 2026, where Terra was presented as part of the artistic outcomes developed by the Tropical Lab 2026 participants.
Febri’s participation in the program represents an academic and artistic experience that expands learning opportunities beyond the university environment. His involvement in the international forum showed the PSPSR student had the opportunity to build networks, exchange knowledge across cultures, and introduce Indonesian perspectives and local knowledge to the global contemporary art discourse.
The experience also demonstrates how arts education can serve as a space for bringing together creativity, local knowledge, environmental issues, and cross-cultural dialogue. For Febri, Tropical Lab 2026 provided an opportunity to further develop his artistic practice while bringing ideas rooted in the Indonesian context into the international art scene.
Author: Febri Anugerah
Editor: ArfikahI