Maria Gunawan

BFA Graphic Design; BA in Management Marketing; Certificate in Entrepreneurship

My work has always been influenced with the way I feel and view the surrounding events. It seems like I scan through numerous amount of thoughts but never get to really say it out loud because I get scared people would misunderstood. However, when it comes to design, I never was afraid of how people see it and eventually art has become my medium of speech. There are so many holding back in real life but with art and design, I know everyone has their own preferences and perspective from which it takes down my pressure of wanting to please everyone around.

Being brought up in an Asian culture but maturing in the Western culture, there are mixed feelings and thoughts that has shaped me into the person that I am now. One side of the world is so open minded in comparison to the other, one side is ridiculously restricted while the other is wildly free. Sometimes, it gets me confused where to stand my ground. These contemplation has lead me to summarize things and portray them in my designs randomly with a sarcastic, funny, bright tone of conversation. I always hope that my designs can portray my personality clearly, hoping that people can recover from their failures and always have that spark of hope to live life like I do. Yes true, when we are exhausted, it is just what it is. But mourning over it for a long time and choosing not recover would not take us anywhere and that is very tragic.

The business mindset has definitely influenced my thought process to the designs I produce, hoping everything made can gain fame, recognition and even profit. I like to bring the darkest thoughts and express them under the light, hoping that instead of crying while seeing it, you smile. It may be difficult to find someone who speaks the same exact language as you, laugh at the same exact humor, understand your form of expression but, as long as I can influence you in a good way, rest does not really matter.