Ina Leah

Gabriela E. Edawani Fernandez: Intersections of Art, Wellbeing, and Cultural Heritage" Gabriela E. Edawani Fernandez, an Indonesian multidisciplinary artist, weaves a vibrant tapestry of music, performance, visual art, dance, writing, lyrics, and moving images, creating an immersive universe that engages and transforms audiences. As a neurodivergent artist with a Bachelor's degree in psychology, Gabriela's practice is a testament to the healing powers of art, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to enhancing physical and mental wellbeing through creative expression. Gabriela's artistic journey is intrinsically linked to her advocacy for neurodiversity and psychological health. Her spontaneous and intuitive art-making process is a direct channel through which she explores and expresses the nuances of human emotions and connections beyond verbal language. In the last six years, Gabriela has dedicated herself to developing therapeutic art workshops and methods, hopefully impacting the education for children in rural areas of Indonesia and various community contexts in East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, Yogyakarta, etc. Gabriela’s work is deeply rooted in the cultural practices of her heritage from the Lamaholot Tribe of East Nusa Tenggara, known for its strong traditions of collective participation and improvisation in the arts. This cultural backdrop enriches her work, providing a foundation of embodied knowledge and oral traditions that inform her creative output. She draws significant inspiration from "Tenun," a traditional woven fabric crafted by the Lamaholot women, symbolizing the intricate tapestry of life and the interconnectedness of human experiences. Her ongoing research project, “Trip Menuju Timur,” epitomizes her commitment to cultural preservation. Through this initiative, Gabriela delves into the cultural artifacts and practices of East Nusa Tenggara that are at risk of being forgotten, seeking ways to revitalize and reinterpret these traditions in contemporary art practice. In her pursuit to integrate art with wellbeing, Gabriela founded Akarupa, a platform offering art-based products and workshops targeted at youth. Here, art transcends its traditional boundaries to become a tool for personal and collective healing. Her workshops, especially in collage and painting, focus on capturing the rhythmic essence of music on canvas—creating a bridge between ephemeral and more permanent mediums, illustrating how music, shapes, and colors can evoke a spectrum of emotions, and encourage a safe space to share personal stories in community.

Gabriela’s art is not just about creating; it’s about connecting. Her projects, such as the "Circle of Emotions" exhibited at the Biennale Jogja: Asana Bina Seni 2022, and her interactive performances, challenge the conventional spectatorship by inviting audience participation. This approach not only democratizes the art experience but also fosters profound connections across diverse audiences, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. Also with her musical career, under the stage name of “Ina Leah”, Gabriela has taken her interactive ethos to various stages, producing music that intertwines mental health awareness with personal stories, delivered through a unique participatory format where the live audience contributes to the lyrical content. This engagement is further extended through her role in national projects, including musical compositions and performances for Indonesian governmental initiatives and her judging roles in the FLS2N National Singer-Songwriting competition. Currently, as a master's student at the Royal College of Art, Gabriela continues to expand her horizon, aiming to harness her art to serve a broad, varied international community. Her future projects include collaborations with hospitals in London and global creative communities, underscoring her vision of art as a universal language of healing and human connection. Through her multifaceted artistic endeavors, Gabriela Fernandez not only poses the question but actively seeks to answer: "Can we develop collective art experiences that are participative and inclusive, to enhance our mental wellbeing in this contemporary context?