MARSHELLA JASTINE

MARSHELLA JASTINE

Sometimes Marshella comes to Bali for work and other times for a break from the crowded city life; enjoying her time exploring the Island of Gods alone or with her family members. In the middle of a sunny day, we had a good time with Marshella Jastine, grassing around the restaurant and enjoying the mesmerizing sunset, while watching people playing volleyball and gathering around together between the white sand, and the clear waves welcoming the sunset that is coming down soon.


Ms. Marshella, you are a person who works in a multi-discipline creative process. How do you describe yourself and your interest in this Contemporary Art industry?

For me, my interest in Contemporary Art aligns with what I do in my work. They are hand in hand, because what I do, is also making Contemporary Art. I never just see one thing or get inspired by a single thing. It’s always from the mix in-between. I believe what we do or make is subconsciously aligned with one another, like an ecosystem. We need to zoom in-zoom out, from a specific view or overall view of one thing. It helps me to have an advantage in enjoying the art itself and my process of working.

May we know your perspective of what “Creative Person” means?

Interesting. For me, creative people can be “creative workers” or a person who has “creative” thinking. I see that everyone in daily life is creative, like a doctor, or a marketer can always be called creative by having a solution-oriented way of thinking. It does not always need to be artsy or have an artistic mind. Creativity is more about having the solutions and flexibility in solving the problems those are ahead of them.




From you yourself, how do you consider something is “nice” or not?

For me, it’s hard to put some standard to categorize something as “nice”, because “nice” is subjective. For everyone, it can mean differently. Something that you considered nice, maybe isn’t for me. For example, if we talk about a “nice” thing, for me it’s when I can view something more than its aesthetic surface only. Like when I see something, it needs to have a soul or a pure message from the makers. From there, I can connect and align with myself on a deeper level. It can be from food or installation that I saw in a previous art exhibition, or old people making their morning tea. We can feel it when something is right, we can feel it when something has a soul on it. When I feel that both are linked, then that is my meaning of “nice”.

How do you describe and/ or find that “Marshella” color palette?

It goes naturally. I never put a box and decide “this is going to be my palette”. All of them came spontaneously. I always pour different feelings into different projects. It depends on the way I connect with the project. I believe that “style” never got built because I want to be someone. The process is more natural and subconscious: it’s already there inside of me. So, I believe by choosing and seeing what I like, what I love, and what I do, they’re already part

of my creative identity, or as you said, my “palette”. I never planned it. It’s a mix between genuine explorations, curiosity, and spontaneous creative acts.

As spontaneous as I enjoy watching the things that happen just around me, like daily stuff. Even video, I like watching vlogs, like mundane things or cooking shows on Youtube, a lot of people are shocked when I always tell them about this one *laughing*.

Do you have something or someone that you admire that inspires your creative process?

I get inspired a lot by architectures, and interiors. I adore and look forward to what they make, like if I have to talk about the people behind it, they are Shiro Kuramata, Isamu Noguchi, Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, many more.

But if we talk about someone that I admire, it will be more about the personality matters that give a strong impact on my life. I can proudly say that my parents, my family, is a big part of me as Marshella Jastine, especially my Dad. We have a strong bond with each other. My parents always supported me as a child and gave me a safe space to explore my creativity. That is where my passions and confidence come from today.



Can you share a story about your first paid job?

I made jewellery back then in my primary school, in 6th grade. I made some of the jewellery from acrylic material, and some rings from certain fabrics. I mixed it with ribbons, and turned it into necklaces. I sold them to my classmates, it was my first paid job. It was a good memory *laughing*.

And then there was my first styling job, I was helping my friend. I just got paid IDR 300.000 when I was still in college. After that, my official first working experience with professionals was when I worked as an intern at Dew Magazine. The photographer was Mr. Anton Ismael, and the first fashion brand that I borrowed was Aesthetic Pleasure. It’s a local brand.

Fast forward 8 years later after I started working as a Stylist, I still feel the need to learn a lot of new things.

What do you think about maintaining relationships with people around you? Are you a solo person or more of a person who likes to work with a team?

We can’t rush any kind of relationship, people have their own time. We need to do it step by step if we want to walk together. Giving space to understand others is necessary, because it’s a part of the ecosystem.

It’s about sustainability. It’s not about whether being famous today, or being famous in 15 minutes. Our life is more than 15 minutes long. We need others. Building a career is like making a foundation for your home. It needs to be organic, even the home is not only about the structure, but also about putting some feelings inside there. It’s the relationship with people that makes the foundation stronger and sustainable.




Can you share a little bit behind the making of @shop.justthings and how you curated it?

It was a spontaneous project while we were in Pandemic 2020. It started from one of the media who approached me to make creative contents. On that platform, they said I can do just anything that I want, as long as it relates with me. Personally, I don’t really like to show my character publicly. I prefer people to know me based on my works.

Firstly, we made the name “On Things”, but it did not feel 100% right yet. So I came up with “Just Things”. It’s quite similar to my name Marshella “Jastine”, and so from there, I feel more aligned. So the final name came to be “Just Things”.

On that platform, I discuss anything that I do as a creative worker. It can be my previous installation or interior design that I do for retail space or photo & video campaigns. It can be anything because back again the name itself is “Just Things”.



What is your favorite part of your creative works process?

Starting and ending. Starting the initiation is actually hard, to feel one project can actually happen. I need to have a lot of optimism for the start of the project. Starting gives me an excited and fun feeling, because it’s a challenge that kind of pushes me and makes me feel “bold” with myself with the project.

And about ending, I can always take any lessons from how one project ends. It makes me understand, aware, and evaluate how the results are, both the good and bad. It’s always memorable to see the starting and ending part of every project that I’ve already done.

What does travelling mean to you?

Travelling is one of my ways to get a lot of inspiration actually. While travelling, I became a big sponge ready to absorb anything around me. I like to walk, I like to see any kind of place. Start from the small things like the environment’s vibe, the people, and historical aspects of it. That’s why I always feel rich when I get back from travelling. Rich of feelings, rich of ideas, rich of knowledge, rich of energies *laughing*.

Any recommendations for places or food in Bali?

My favorite international restaurant, for now, is Shelter Restaurant in Pererenan. For comfort food, there is MeVui Vietnam, Ichi Japanese, Yukimaru in Sanur. Also, Tanjung Sari. I like the place and the food there. For traditionals, I like the pork from Sari Kembar and Bu Ning, both in Seminyak.



Marshella Jastine

written by Tiarama

photos by Marshella Jastine

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