Yana Poppe is a visual artist living in the Netherlands. She was uprooted from Indonesia as a baby (adoption) and grew up in a predominantly white environment. Her artworks mainly consists of paintings. During her study she learned how to use Japanese traditional painting techniques in Japan. In many of Yana's paintings you will see how she uses pigments on Japanese (handmade) paper. Her experience with adoption has been, and still is, the main drive behind her practice. Topics like belonging and 'home' are reasons why she participated in artist in residences around the world. The subject in Yana's paintings can be understood by her exploring the everyday landscape. Her question is: How would my life have been if I hadn't been displaced to the Netherlands? Typical features in her artworks are architectural- or other man-made objects, such as vending machines. In recent years Yana has dived deeper into what adoption means to her. Something which she expresses in her songs, but also watercolors of Indonesian food and paintings of Indonesian landscapes.
Published on March 3rd, 2024. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you working on these days?
Recently I'm inspired to make songs. I also try to make music video's, but that's a whole new medium for me. I started making songs in 2020, because I couldn't express myself in paintings anymore. What I like about it, is that I feel more freedom in making music than in paintings. I am always aware that a painting has a particular value, whether esthetically or money-wise. I think that music is much more about the experience itself, which inherently makes it more intimate for me. I made two songs about adoption, but my latest song is about having a crush on someone, and not having your feelings being reciprocated. In a way it's lighthearted, but on the other hand: many adopted people have some extra issues when it comes to relationships. Now I'm working on a song that is about friendship and the current political climate. I have been thinking for a while now whether I want (or deem it necessary) to be an artist that reflects their time. And I think I owe it to the world to show that I'm not only making art in a fantasy bubble.
What has been going well for you in your art career and life recently?
I was very lucky to have been invited to participate in an exhibition organized by Swatch. This pulled me out of my doubts regarding my painting career in general. This was an opportunity to explore what painting means to me in this phase of my life. I had amazing mentors who were very engaged and who stimulated me to feel free to experiment. I had the chance to paint on two big canvases with acrylics, something I hadn't done for a long time. It was an amazing experience! Regarding my life, if you read my story last year, I was not doing well because the reunion with my Javanese family was heartbreaking. This year I have found some peace and acceptance. I also had the chance to meet my friends in Japan last Summer, which was very healing. Apart from this, I'm more outspoken on anti-colonial matters, and I have found people who are into that as well. This has given me other opportunities, such as an interview on Dutch national radio, and being included in the 2024 year calender 'women in history'. I feel very honored and humbled by this.
What is something new that you have discovered this past year that is meaningful or helpful for you?
I rediscovered using acrylic paint on canvas. This was helpful, because I was quite stuck on only using Japanese pigments. I got to experience the ease of using a brush, and the freedom of mixing colors on the canvas. So actually I rediscovered the joy of painting itself. I still have to figure out how often I can make such big paintings, because my budget is small. Although I started making songs in 2020, it is still relatively new to me. It's really meaningful to me, because I can use words (lyrics) and emotions (melody etc). To me expression has become much more important these past years than to paint a beautiful scenery only. It has definitely enriched my art practise as a whole.
Briefly walk us through your process of making art or thinking through a new project, focusing on what's most important to you as you create.
Regarding making a painting. Example: Swatch project. Beforehand I decided to paint an Indonesian scenery. I prefer using my own material, so I went through all my videos and photos from 2022. I have several topics when I make new art: identity, Indonesian culture, passing of time (melancholy) etc. When I came across some video's of me being lost while walking through alleyways, I could relate this to the feeling of being lost and searching for a home. The next step was: how to express that in a painting? I started making collages. It came naturally to me to choose two pathways in one painting: which way leads to home? Furthermore, to show the nature of Indonesia, I purposefully chose photos with many plants, or otherwise added more. When I talked with my mentors, I couldn't forget that they said that painting can also be very healing. Not only to you, but also for the viewer. With that in mind, I choose colors that make me happy, with a focus on purple. It's a color that I relate to spirituality, something that I have been interested in since I started practicing traditional Indonesian dance over a year ago.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
If there are any beginning artists reading this: Don't beat yourself up when you're feeling stuck or other things in life ask for your attention. If you love to make things, then it will come back to you sooner or later. Also, I think there's sometimes too much stress on experimenting. If you feel like painting the same flower over and over again: do that. At the same time, if it's possible: try to find as much freedom within your art practice. This sometimes requires doing things differently. At last: I don't think you can totally separate life and art. It's your choice how much of life you let in and inspire you. At the same time: you have no choice at all, because we can't predict the impact that life has on us and our art. I think what I want to say is: have faith in your own expression in art.
What are you working on these days?
Recently I'm inspired to make songs. I also try to make music video's, but that's a whole new medium for me. I started making songs in 2020, because I couldn't express myself in paintings anymore. What I like about it, is that I feel more freedom in making music than in paintings. I am always aware that a painting has a particular value, whether esthetically or money-wise. I think that music is much more about the experience itself, which inherently makes it more intimate for me. I made two songs about adoption, but my latest song is about having a crush on someone, and not having your feelings being reciprocated. In a way it's lighthearted, but on the other hand: many adopted people have some extra issues when it comes to relationships. Now I'm working on a song that is about friendship and the current political climate. I have been thinking for a while now whether I want (or deem it necessary) to be an artist that reflects their time. And I think I owe it to the world to show that I'm not only making art in a fantasy bubble.
What has been going well for you in your art career and life recently?
I was very lucky to have been invited to participate in an exhibition organized by Swatch. This pulled me out of my doubts regarding my painting career in general. This was an opportunity to explore what painting means to me in this phase of my life. I had amazing mentors who were very engaged and who stimulated me to feel free to experiment. I had the chance to paint on two big canvases with acrylics, something I hadn't done for a long time. It was an amazing experience! Regarding my life, if you read my story last year, I was not doing well because the reunion with my Javanese family was heartbreaking. This year I have found some peace and acceptance. I also had the chance to meet my friends in Japan last Summer, which was very healing. Apart from this, I'm more outspoken on anti-colonial matters, and I have found people who are into that as well. This has given me other opportunities, such as an interview on Dutch national radio, and being included in the 2024 year calender 'women in history'. I feel very honored and humbled by this.
What is something new that you have discovered this past year that is meaningful or helpful for you?
I rediscovered using acrylic paint on canvas. This was helpful, because I was quite stuck on only using Japanese pigments. I got to experience the ease of using a brush, and the freedom of mixing colors on the canvas. So actually I rediscovered the joy of painting itself. I still have to figure out how often I can make such big paintings, because my budget is small. Although I started making songs in 2020, it is still relatively new to me. It's really meaningful to me, because I can use words (lyrics) and emotions (melody etc). To me expression has become much more important these past years than to paint a beautiful scenery only. It has definitely enriched my art practise as a whole.
Briefly walk us through your process of making art or thinking through a new project, focusing on what's most important to you as you create.
Regarding making a painting. Example: Swatch project. Beforehand I decided to paint an Indonesian scenery. I prefer using my own material, so I went through all my videos and photos from 2022. I have several topics when I make new art: identity, Indonesian culture, passing of time (melancholy) etc. When I came across some video's of me being lost while walking through alleyways, I could relate this to the feeling of being lost and searching for a home. The next step was: how to express that in a painting? I started making collages. It came naturally to me to choose two pathways in one painting: which way leads to home? Furthermore, to show the nature of Indonesia, I purposefully chose photos with many plants, or otherwise added more. When I talked with my mentors, I couldn't forget that they said that painting can also be very healing. Not only to you, but also for the viewer. With that in mind, I choose colors that make me happy, with a focus on purple. It's a color that I relate to spirituality, something that I have been interested in since I started practicing traditional Indonesian dance over a year ago.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
If there are any beginning artists reading this: Don't beat yourself up when you're feeling stuck or other things in life ask for your attention. If you love to make things, then it will come back to you sooner or later. Also, I think there's sometimes too much stress on experimenting. If you feel like painting the same flower over and over again: do that. At the same time, if it's possible: try to find as much freedom within your art practice. This sometimes requires doing things differently. At last: I don't think you can totally separate life and art. It's your choice how much of life you let in and inspire you. At the same time: you have no choice at all, because we can't predict the impact that life has on us and our art. I think what I want to say is: have faith in your own expression in art.
Find Yana Poppe on Instagram