EILEEN ADLER

Mulyana was born in 1984 in Bandung, Indonesia, currently living in Yogyakarta, is an artist known for his fantastic colorful undersea creations of crocheted coral worlds and fantastical creatures. As a child, he explains, he was bullied for what were perceived as activities that were too feminine, so he stopped, finding it easier to express his art in drawing, less flamboyant, providing calmness and comfort. Outgrowing this stigma, he dove into his artistic side. He majored in art and became an art teacher, learning to crochet and knit at Tobucil in Bandung, the famous book shop. And that may be when his world changed.

Handcrafted art is a “feeling game” he explains, and as a knitting designer, I totally align with his thinking. Like Mulyana, art always makes me happy, whether I am actively engaged or planning to be. Art, like my knitting, may become your personal comfort keeper.

Crochet is his favorite medium because it is very flexible, but he employs knitting and finger-knitting for specific design elements. Finger-knitting is created with one, two, or all four fingers and yarn – that is all!
 

He describes his creative process as straightforward, beginning with yarn and hook in hand as forms begin to appear, described as small organisms. These small organisms or modules are then installed into larger art forms, and often the limiting factor is space. His art could be endless because possibilities are endless. In essence, he is a storyteller—and quite a fantastic one!
Mulyana: The art of playful crochet  



Life Lesson: When you are resourceful, feeling out your strategy, you will gain your independence. Being resourceful, can lead to more artistic freedom but do think of failure as feedback and information. You have learned that if I do this, then that happens. And then you wonder what will come next. Being a care partner might be a creative journey as you find new ways to do things.