Rino and Howard 
Local Artists: The HR Factor 

Rino’s Story

 

Born in Bandung, Indonesia

 

1988-1991 : Economics study at Parahyangan University

 

1992 : English course in Singapore

 

1993-1995 : LaSalle School of Arts (Diploma in Ceramics), Singapore

 

1996 : Glass Studies (BA) Monash University

 

1997-2001 : Sarjana Bumi Arts, Melbourne & CERES, Melbourne, teaching Indonesian Art & Culture workshop to schools all over Victoria & NSW Sydney

 

2002 : Moved to Tasmania

 

2003 : Moved to Geeveston permanently

 

2004 : Present practising artist and running classes

 

I grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia. I left High School and had no choice but to follow my parent’s instruction to study economics, even though I was accepted into another university for Japanese literature and design. So it was no surprise that it only lasted for two years before I managed to make them drop me out from the university. From the moment I dropped out I knew that I would enrol in an art school in Jakarta.

 

To cut a story short, my parents gave in and somehow what started as a plan to polish my English for a year, ended in me studying Fine Arts, which then lead me to take up glass study in Australia. I landed in their third year program, to some people’s annoyance because I had no experience what so ever in glass.

 

It took me one whole year to finally get a job which enabled me to stay in Australia. By then I had a collection of approximately 85 rejection letters. I got married in 2001 before moving to Tasmania. My then Husband didn’t like big cities like Melbourne, and I prefer a cold climate, so Tasmanian was the only choice.

 

Like Howard, I like the bumpy road and I love the lushness of this country. I definitely like the climate, although I still think it is a heatwave when the temperature is higher than 25 degrees.

I do not know why I like Geeveston. Sometimes you can like something without knowing the reason why, and this is one of them for me.

 

I do not know for sure, but I like it better when I started to see less big trucks full of logs. At least now I do more gardening (something that I never thought I’d do when I was in Jakarta), although so far I am only good at weeding, including pulling things that are apparently not weed. You can still hear my squealing in the garden, that happens when I see worms.

 

I have started making things from commercial made felt (slippers and bags), leather (new leather or recycled) to make them into sandals and wallets, and I started using recycled glass from bottles. I am getting more and more interested in the idea of making good quality items from recycled materials.