Cipta Croft-Cusworth

Jakarta, Indonesia

My name is Cipta, it is the Indonesian word for "create".

Writing is in my blood. Both my mother and father were avid writers publishing novels and poetry throughout my youth. When I lost both my parents it sent me on a journey of self discovery that became my first bilingual (Indonesian/English) publication, Buku Kuku-Ku in 2017 and is known to be one of the first 'graphic memoirs' in Indonesia. Since then I have published 3 more graphic novels in Indonesia ("This is Not a Toy Story", Seri Siluman Serigala" & "Antara Ia dan Tiada") with many more on the horizon. I look forward to exhibiting my books in Melbourne, bringing a wider audience to my work and representing the Indonesian art scene. I would be very interested in doing a public reading of one of my books that does not contain words. I tell the story while the audience follows the pictures - like a live audio accompaniment to a "silent" comic book. I am also a 'dalang' (shadow puppeteer), I make my own puppets and perform stories from the books that I write. I am also known for being Indonesia's first independent Art Toy maker since 2005, and toys have always been an imperative part of my storytelling.