She blends Indonesian traditions with modern approaches, creating projects that build community and open space for healing and self-discovery. Her mission? To build bridges through art, sparking understanding and connection across cultures and generations. That’s why Art for All is more than just a slogan, it’s a mission.
“I want art to be for everyone. Art can help us find ourselves and understand each other”
Art as a Tool for Healing and Community
Ina Leah sees art as an invitation for anyone to tell their story, connect with others, and feel as a part of something bigger.
“I want art to be for everyone. Art can help us find ourselves and understand each other,” she says.
With her project “Trip Menuju Timur,” a slow-building initiative she’s developed over years, she invites young people in East Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia to re-experience to their roots and cultural heritage.
The project lives by the Indonesian spirit of Gotong Royong—working together for the community.
“It’s about building something as a community, from the community, and hopefully, being impactful for the community too. By keeping our culture alive and sharing it with new generations, we’re creating a space where they feel proud and grounded.”
In “Trip Menuju Timur,” volunteers and young people are invited to engage with the traditional arts of the region, from dancing to weaving, re-connecting with their cultural heritage.
This isn’t just cultural preservation – it’s a living experience, growing with each participant’s journey. Gotong Royong lies at the heart of the project, underscoring the importance of collective strength.
Funded through community donations and sales of Ina Leah’s artwork, this might show one possibility of how art can benefit a community.
For Ina Leah, art isn’t just a personal pursuit; it’s a chance to build something that lasts, something that can give people support and strength in times of need.
“The work I’m doing isn’t just mine; it belongs to the community, to everyone who participates. It’s their legacy too,” she says.
The Healing Power of Art
With a background in psychology and experience in mindfulness communities built by inspiring practitioners like Janti Alterjiwo in Yogyakarta, Ina Leah experiences the powerful role creativity plays in healing.
Her workshops offer participants a safe space to reflect, express themselves, and connect with others. “It moves me every time to see participants who are hesitant at first, and by the end, they’re smiling ear to ear, proud of what they’ve created,” she says.
These sessions go beyond typical workshops; they’re experiences that invite strangers to become friends, creating a strong sense of belonging and support.
In a world that’s increasingly isolated, Ina Leah feels it’s her mission to bring people back together. In Indonesia, like many places, lots of people still stigmatizes mental health, making people hesitant to seek support.
She believes art is a gentle way to break down this barrier. “Art can be a bridge, something that feels healing without feeling clinical,” she says.
Reawakening traditional practices, Ina Leah hopes to create a new kind of mental health support that feels natural and grounded in cultural identity.
She also draws inspiration from her childhood memories of “Tenun,” the traditional weaving art of East Nusa Tenggara. She remembers seeing the beautiful woven textiles as a child but not fully understanding their significance.
“I just knew it was something that showed our identity,” she explains.
As she grew older and began working on Trip Menuju Timur, she rediscovered the meaning behind Tenun.
“Weaving is like storytelling; each pattern carries generations of meaning and knowledge. It connects people, and it’s a way of preserving our stories.”
This insight shapes her approach, blending visual art with elements of heritage to create something therapeutic, informative, and impactful.
Through these projects, she invites others to share in this healing process, helping them express themselves and reconnect.
A New Path in the Art World
After years in music and performance, Ina Leah is expanding her work to include visual and interactive art, sharing her culture and message with the international art scene.
Based in London, she’s exploring new media – rhythmical painting, stop-motion, and interactive installations – that allow her to dive deeper into her heritage.
Her artist name, “Ina Leah,” carries that connection: “Ina” means “mother” and reflects both the earth and feminine spirit, while “Leah” is an anagram of “heal.”
Trying to reach more people, however, has brought its own challenges. Larger workshops, she notes, often lose the intimacy and personal connection that are central to her practice.
“I tried doing a workshop with 200 people once,” she laughs. “It’s just not the same.”
Yet she’s determined to make her work accessible to larger audiences without losing its message. She hopes to share her Indonesian roots with the world, inspiring others to embrace and explore their own cultural identities.
“I want people to see the beauty and power in our culture, to show them that art can be so much more than entertainment,” she says.
Art as a Bridge to the Future
Looking forward, Ina Leah sees her work as part of a larger movement to integrate art and mental health, especially in Indonesia.
“When I arrived in London, I was amazed at how embedded art is within the healthcare system here,” she says, referring to practices like social prescribing, where NHS doctors collaborate with artists to help patients.
“I feel like that approach could be so valuable in Indonesia, where therapy can still feel very ‘Western’ and intimidating to many.”
In Indonesia, where art rooted in tradition is deeply respected, Ina Leah believes this cultural link could make mental health support feel more accessible and less clinical.
“Art could reach people who wouldn’t otherwise seek help,” she explains.
By integrating art into community and healthcare settings, she hopes to create a more inclusive, familiar space for mental well-being, bridging modern needs with traditional practices.
As Ina Leah continues her journey, she stays true to the Gotong Royong spirit, creating art that connects and uplifts the communities.
“I want to build something that lives on,” she says, “something people can turn to for connection, healing, and pride.”
Ina Leah invites us all to see art not as a luxury but as a powerful tool for healing and connection. Ready to explore how art can bring people together and create lasting change? Step into her world and let art build the bridges we need.
“I want people to see the beauty and power in our culture, to show them that art can be so much more than entertainment”
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