INDO24HOURS.COM — An artist’s journey is not always measured by how far she travels, but by how she continues to discover herself through the works she creates.
For Andrea van Diemen, an Indonesian artist who now lives in Adelaide, Australia, that journey has reached an important milestone with her first solo exhibition, titled “I Am Who I Am.”
The exhibition is scheduled to open at the Burra Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) on 24 October 2026 and will run until 18 December 2026.
The title “I Am Who I Am” is more than simply the name of the exhibition. For Andrea, it is a personal statement about her ongoing journey and growth as an artist.
“I Am Who I Am is a statement to myself, reminding me to keep striving to become the best version of myself as an artist, according to my abilities at this point in my journey,” Andrea says.
Her statement reflects the way she approaches her artistic journey—not as an achievement that ends at a particular point, but as an ongoing process of growth and discovery.
She chooses to create from where she is today, while continuing to explore new possibilities.
Indonesia Remains an Important Part of Her Identity
Although Andrea now lives and creates in Australia, Indonesia continues to hold a strong place in her artistic journey.
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Her love for Indonesian culture, she says, has become deeply rooted in who she is. At the same time, living in a new environment has given her an opportunity to explore and appreciate the local culture of Australia.
“It is quite significant because I have a deep love for Indonesian culture, which is already part of my identity. At the same time, I am always interested in exploring more of the local culture where I now live,” she says.
The meeting of these two cultural experiences has become an important part of Andrea’s creative journey. Her identity as an Indonesian woman has not disappeared since moving to Australia. Instead, it exists alongside the new experiences she continues to discover in her adopted home.
One of the things that fascinates Andrea most about Australia is its natural environment. The dramatic changes in weather from one season to another offer an ever-changing visual landscape that continues to inspire her artistic exploration.
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“The extreme weather changes in each season make the flora and fauna incredibly beautiful and diverse,” Andrea says.
Nature has consequently become one of the recurring elements in her work. Through a mixed-media approach, Andrea explores different materials and mediums to interpret what she sees, feels and experiences around her.
Her interest in flora, fauna, colour, texture and natural materials gives her work a strong connection to the environment. Nature is not merely a visual subject, but an integral part of her artistic experience.
Before preparing for her first solo exhibition, Andrea had already gone through a considerable journey as an emerging artist in Australia.
She has participated in a number of exhibitions and art events, including the Auburn French Festival 2023 and the Clare Show 2024.
Her artistic journey received further recognition through the Art of the Flower, Paradise Lost and Found 2025 competition at the Burra Regional Art Gallery. Two of Andrea’s works received awards at the event.
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“My Flowery Mind” was awarded Highly Commended, while “Where Go My Golden Leaves” received an Encouragement Award.
For Andrea, the recognition was not simply about receiving awards, but about having the long process behind her work acknowledged.
“I was, of course, deeply touched and proud, because it showed meaningful appreciation for a process that has taken quite a long time and has not been an instant journey for an emerging artist like myself here,” she says.
The recognition became an important milestone, encouraging Andrea to continue developing her work while expanding her artistic exploration.
From Canvas to Organic Batik and Ecoprint
For her solo exhibition, “I Am Who I Am”, Andrea does not limit herself to a single medium. Visitors will be invited to experience her artistic exploration through a variety of media, including paintings on canvas and wood, creative textile works featuring organic batik and ecoprint, as well as her latest collection of handmade jewellery.
This diversity of mediums reflects Andrea’s belief that art is not about being confined to one particular technique, but about having the courage to keep exploring.
“For this solo exhibition, I want every visitor who comes to be able to experience and enjoy my artistic journey through the different media I have explored, including paintings on canvas and wood, creative textiles such as organic batik and ecoprint, as well as my latest collection of handmade jewellery,” she says.
The exhibition therefore becomes more than a showcase of finished works. It also serves as a reflection of Andrea’s creative journey. Each material brings its own character.
Canvas and wood provide space for visual exploration, while textiles, organic batik and ecoprint create a closer connection with materials and elements of nature.
Her handmade jewellery further expands her exploration into a more intimate and wearable form of art.
Andrea van Diemen’s first solo exhibition at the Burra Regional Art Gallery marks an important chapter in the journey of an Indonesian artist building her creative life in Australia.
On one hand, her work carries traces of her deep appreciation for Indonesia and its rich cultural heritage.
On the other, life in Australia has opened new opportunities to observe nature, culture, flora, fauna and local life, all of which continue to inform her creative process.
“I Am Who I Am” ultimately becomes more than the title of an exhibition. It is a statement about having the courage to embrace oneself, to keep learning and to continue growing.
For Andrea, being an artist is not about being perfect. It is about continuing the journey and striving to become the best version of herself through the abilities she has today.
From Indonesia to Australia, from a culture deeply rooted in her identity to a new environment that she continues to explore, Andrea’s journey demonstrates how an artist’s identity can evolve without losing its roots.
The exhibition “I Am Who I Am” at the Burra Regional Art Gallery will offer the public an opportunity to experience that journey through the colours, textures, materials and diverse mediums that have become part of Andrea van Diemen’s artistic language.****
