Based in
East Java, Indonesia
Mediums
Themes
Education
Ballpoint pen, acrylic and mixed media on paper, canvas, hardboard and aluminium; organic and reclaimed materials
Ecological loss, pollution, urban alienation, meditation, memory and renewal
Recognition
Fine Art, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2015–2019
Selected Exhibitions
2025: RT SURA 2025 "Wedangan, Rindu, dan Kenangan", Taman Balekambang, Solo
2024: Citraland, Surabaya, Vinautism Gallery, Out Of Sight
2023: Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, HOM OPEN 2023
Rhizoscape: The Living Network exhibition in London will be showcasing some of this artist’s work from 19th February to 4th March 2027
EMIL FAIS
Tracing ecological loss, urban pressure and interior refuge through ballpoint and mixed media.
Emil Fais’s practice operates at the intersection of industrial expansion and ecological memory. Through meticulous ballpoint linework and mixed-media assemblage, he depicts environments marked by deforestation, pollution and encroaching urban development. Materials such as washed garlic skins, discarded sponges and reclaimed wood extend this ecological enquiry into the physical construction of the work, transforming waste into both medium and evidence. Meditating figures, enclosed gardens and imagined pockets of vegetation recur as sites of psychological refuge. Within The Living Network, Fais presents contemplation not as withdrawal, but as a form of resistance: a means of preserving an inner relationship with nature amid mounting environmental and urban pressure
Emil Fais (b. 1997, South Sulawesi, Indonesia) is based in Waru, Sidoarjo, East Java, and holds a degree in Fine Art (Seni Rupa Murni) from Universitas Negeri Surabaya (2015–2019). His cross-medium practice spans ballpoint pen on paper and canvas, aluminium plate, hardboard and mixed media incorporating organic waste such as garlic skin and reclaimed wood. His work centres on pollution, ecological loss, urban pressure and meditative retreat, rendered with dense, detailed linework and emotional intensity. Since 2015 he has exhibited widely across Indonesia and internationally, including in Malaysia and South Korea, and has handled production for major biennales in East and Central Java. In 2024 he received a Silver award at the International Modern Art Exhibition Conch Award in Jeju, Korea, and an Honourable Mention in the Canvas of Kindness competition, Jakarta.
2024: Silver Award, International Modern Art Exhibition Conch Award, Jeju, Korea
2024: Honourable Mention, Canvas of Kindness competition, Ashta District, Jakarta
Practice Themes
Waste as Witness:
Discarded materials, garlic skin, sponge, reclaimed wood, become both medium and evidence of ecological damage
Stillness as Resistance
Meditating figures embody inward stillness as a quiet form of resistance to urban and ecological pressure
Imagined Refuge
Enclosed gardens and pockets of vegetation preserve an inner relationship with nature amid mounting pressure
Emil Fais is a visionary Indonesian artist who works across mediums, from ballpoint pen on paper to canvas and metal plate.
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2023: Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, HOM OPEN 2023
2024: Citraland, Surabaya, Indonesia, Vinautism Gallery, Out Of Sight
2025: Taman Balekambang, Solo, Indonesia, ART SURA 2025, Wedangan, Rindu, dan Kenangan
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2024: Jeju, Korea Silver Award, International Modern Art Exhibition Conch Award
2024: Ashta District, Jakarta, Honourable Mention, Canvas of Kindness competition
The Works
Emil Fais
Ballpoint pen and Crayon
2026
29.7 x 42 cm; 11.7 x 16.5 in
Price: POA
In this home, I choose to grow alongside quiet nature—letting every green leaf absorb my weariness, and every breath of fresh air wash away the noise in my head. Here, beneath the lush shade of the forest, I come home: not merely to rest, but to rediscover my whole self.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Di rumah ini, aku memilih tumbuh bersama alam yang tenang. Membiarkan setiap helai daun hijau menyerap penatku, dan setiap embusan udara segar membasuh riuh di kepalaku. Di sini, di balik rimbunnya keteduhan hutan, aku pulang—bukan hanya untuk beristirahat, tapi untuk menemukan kembali diriku yang utuh
Emil Fais
Ballpoint pen
2024
29.7 x 42 cm; 11.7 x 16.5 in
Price: POA
A stunning piece of stippling artwork featuring two symmetrical, mirroring circles. Inside each circle stands a suited figure, their head formed by a mass of dark clouds that conceals a lush, vibrant forest. A brilliantly beaked toucan perches beside each figure, creating a sharp contrast between the darkness of the clouds and the beauty of nature. This work offers a profound visualization of human duality—the tension between the weight of the mind and the peace of nature, as well as the interplay between the artificial and the organic. It is a philosophical reflection that is both intricate and beautiful.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Sebuah karya seni stippling yang menakjubkan menampilkan dua lingkaran simetris yang saling mencerminkan. Di dalam setiap lingkaran terdapat sosok berjas, kepalanya dibentuk oleh gumpalan awan gelap yang menutupi hutan yang rimbun dan semarak. Seekor toucan dengan paruh berwarna cerah bertengger di samping setiap sosok, menciptakan kontras yang tajam antara kegelapan awan dan keindahan alam. Karya ini menawarkan visualisasi mendalam tentang dualitas manusia—ketegangan antara beban pikiran dan kedamaian alam, serta interaksi antara buatan dan organik. Ini adalah refleksi filosofis yang rumit sekaligus indah.
Emil Fais
Ballpoint pen
2024
30 x 30 cm; 11.8 x 11.8 in
Price: POA
This tells the story of a peaceful life centered around meditation in a home garden, cultivating a refreshed mind, and enhancing physical and mental well-being for the future.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Ini menceritakan tentang kehidupan damai yang berpusat pada meditasi di kebun rumah, menumbuhkan pikiran yang segar, dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan fisik dan mental untuk masa depan
Emil Fais
Mix Media on canvas
2026
Round - 60 cm diameter ; 23.6in diameter
Price: POA
A thickly textured (impasto) painting encased in a circular frame features a introspective self-portrait of an astronaut. The outer helmet reflects the vast, cold darkness of the cosmos, yet within the visor lies a peaceful, hopeful world.
Their mind is an oasis—a vibrant field of yellow daisies under a cloudy blue sky—offering a serene and soothing vision of the future amidst the void of space. This work serves as a poetic visualization of inner escape and the longing for nature's beauty as a sanctuary for a quieter life.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Sebuah lukisan bertekstur tebal (impasto) yang dibingkai dalam bingkai melingkar menampilkan potret diri seorang astronot yang sedang merenung. Bagian luar helm mencerminkan kegelapan kosmos yang luas dan dingin, namun di dalam pelindung wajahnya terdapat dunia yang damai dan penuh harapan.
Pikiran mereka adalah sebuah oase—hamparan bunga daisy kuning cerah di bawah langit biru berawan—menawarkan visi masa depan yang tenang dan menenangkan di tengah kehampaan ruang angkasa. Karya ini berfungsi sebagai visualisasi puitis dari pelarian batin dan kerinduan akan keindahan alam sebagai tempat perlindungan untuk kehidupan yang lebih tenang.
Emil Fais
Ballpoint pen and red onion skin on canvas
2025
50 x 60 cm; 19.7 x 23.6 in
Price: POA
This work reflects my anxiety regarding the face of the Earth, which grows redder by the day from its wounds. Through Red Pollution, I visualize how nature, damaged by illegal logging, leaves behind a permanent mark—just like the red color dominating the background of this canvas.
During the process, I collected garlic skin waste from kitchen leftovers. I washed these thoroughly before arranging and pasting them one by one onto the canvas, building a thick, layered texture. For me, this process was a ritual to give "new value" to something considered trash. The garlic peels symbolize something discarded and valueless, much like how we often treat the remnants of nature around us. The rough texture that emerges becomes a physical representation of the Earth's peeling, inflamed "skin."
Amidst that chaotic red, there is a circular space rendered in detailed ballpoint pen. That is where what remains of hope resides—a single green tree still standing tall, despite now being isolated. The figure in this painting represents all of us: silent witnesses whose bodies are beginning to be eroded by pollution, yet who still hold the memory of a green future. This work is a reminder that the few trees left today are the final treasure we must protect for the breath of future generations.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Karya ini adalah kegelisahan saya terhadap wajah bumi yang kian hari kian memerah karena luka. Melalui 'Red Pollution', saya memvisualisasikan bagaimana alam yang rusak akibat penebangan liar meninggalkan jejak permanen—seperti warna merah yang mendominasi latar belakang kanvas ini.
Dalam prosesnya, saya mengumpulkan limbah kulit bawang putih dari sisa aktivitas dapur. Limbah ini saya cuci bersih sebelum akhirnya saya susun dan tempelkan satu per satu di atas kanvas hingga membangun tekstur yang tebal dan berlapis. Bagi saya, proses ini adalah sebuah ritual untuk memberikan 'nilai baru' pada sesuatu yang dianggap sampah. Kulit bawang putih menjadi simbol sesuatu yang terbuang dan tak berharga, sama halnya dengan bagaimana seringkali kita memperlakukan sisa-sisa alam di sekitar kita. Tekstur kasar yang tercipta menjadi representasi fisik dari 'kulit bumi' yang mengelupas dan meradang.
Di tengah kekacauan warna merah tersebut, terdapat sebuah ruang melingkar yang saya kerjakan dengan detail ballpoint. Di sanalah sisa harapan itu berada—sebatang pohon hijau yang masih tegak, meski kini ia terisolasi. Figur dalam lukisan ini merepresentasikan kita semua; saksi bisu yang tubuhnya mulai tergerus oleh polusi, namun masih menyimpan memori tentang hijaunya masa depan. Karya ini adalah pengingat bahwa sisa pohon yang ada sekarang adalah harta terakhir yang harus kita jaga demi nafas generasi mendatang.
Emil Fais
Mix Media - Dishwashing sponge, Floral wire, and acrylic paint on canvas
2026
60 x 80 cm; 23.6 x 31.5 in
Price: POA
Amidst the crush of an industrial city that never ceases to spew dust, the roar of machinery, and relentless crawling busyness, the mind often seeks a profound pause. This work was born from an honest inner struggle—about how modern humans live side by side with a concrete jungle while, on the other hand, harboring a deep yearning for pure silence.
Visually and conceptually, this piece represents both the conflict and the harmony between two polar opposite worlds. On one hand, the outer background depicts a dense urban landscape, filled with the geometric structures of buildings and a heavy industrial atmosphere, reflecting the noise and psychological pressure of daily life. Yet, behind this encirclement lies a sanctuary of the mind, visualized through a figure meditating within the gentle embrace of lush green nature.
Here, meditation is not merely the physical act of sitting cross-legged; it is a quiet form of resistance. It is the human mind's way of rescuing itself from the exhaustion of increasingly demanding social and ecological systems. The green leaves, floral elements, and clarity of the natural environment act as a catalyst that absorbs mental pollution. Within that meditative space, the air feels lighter, the mind is refreshed, and the inner self rediscovers the peace that so often fades amidst the clamor of city streets.
This work also carries an ecological reflection central to my artistic identity. The use of specific materials in this creative process serves not only as a visual medium, but also as a critique of how nature and industry are intertwined. Nature's greenery, though isolated within a bubble of tranquility, remains fragile amidst the massive expansion of civilization. Through this visualization, I aim to convey that true tranquility does not require us to completely flee the city, but rather to cultivate a "green space" within our own minds—safeguarding our sanity and peace of soul so they are not ground to dust alongside the industrial debris outside.
Ultimately, this work is a visual monologue about the journey home. Returning to the quietest point within oneself, where nature and humanity unite in a meditation that is calm, pure, and invigorating to every inch of a consciousness nearly exhausted by modern times.
Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)
Ditengah himpitan kota industri yang tak pernah lelah mengepulkan debu, deru mesin, dan kesibukan yang merayap tanpa henti, kepala ini sering kali butuh jeda yang teramat dalam. Karya ini lahir dari sebuah pergulatan batin yang jujur—tentang bagaimana manusia modern hidup berdampingan dengan belantara beton, namun di sisi lain, menyimpan kerinduan mendalam akan keheningan yang murni.
Secara visual dan konseptual, karya ini merepresentasikan pertarungan sekaligus harmoni antara dua dunia yang bertolak belakang. Di satu sisi, latar luar digambarkan dengan lanskap urban yang padat, penuh dengan struktur geometris bangunan dan atmosfer industrial yang pekat, mencerminkan kebisingan dan tekanan psikologis kehidupan sehari-hari. Namun, di balik kepungan tersebut, terdapat sebuah ruang perlindungan batin yang divisualisasikan melalui figur yang sedang bermeditasi di dalam dekap alam hijau yang asri.
Meditasi di sini bukan sekadar aktivitas fisik duduk bersila, melainkan sebuah bentuk perlawanan sunyi. Ini adalah cara pikiran manusia untuk menyelamatkan diri dari kepenatan sistem sosial dan ekologis yang kian menuntut. Hijau daun, elemen flora, dan kejernihan suasana alam bertindak sebagai katalisator yang menyerap polusi mental. Di dalam ruang meditatif itu, udara terasa lebih ringan, pikiran kembali segar, dan batin menemukan kembali kedamaian yang sering kali meredup di tengah jalanan kota yang riuh.
Karya ini juga membawa refleksi ekologis yang melekat pada identitas kekaryaanku. Penggunaan material-material tertentu dalam proses kreatif ini tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai media rupa, tetapi juga sebagai kritik terhadap bagaimana alam dan industri saling berkelindan. Alam yang hijau, meski terisolasi dalam gelembung ketenangan, tetap rapuh di tengah ekspansi peradaban yang masif. Melalui visualisasi ini, aku ingin menyampaikan pesan bahwa ketenangan sejati tidak menuntut kita untuk benar-benar lari dari kota, melainkan kemampuan untuk merawat "ruang hijau" di dalam kepala—menjaga kewarasan dan kedamaian jiwa agar tidak ikut hancur lebur bersama debu industri di luar sana.
Pada akhirnya, karya ini adalah sebuah monolog visual tentang perjalanan pulang. Pulang ke titik paling sunyi di dalam diri, di mana alam dan manusia menyatu dalam meditasi yang tenang, bersih, dan menyegarkan kembali setiap inci kesadaran yang hampir lelah oleh zaman.