Nani Puspasari — 'KAWAI' Ceramic Mug

These hand-built functional ceramic mugs bring illustration into everyday life. Individually shaped and painted with playful characters and sculptural details, each mug turns a simple daily object into a unique tactile artwork. 

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Nani Puspasari, a visual artist based in Naarm, Australia, migrated to Australia in 2008. She holds a design degree from Swinburne University and earned her Master of Fine Arts from RMIT in 2010. Her artistic practice is a profound exploration of visual art that includes installation, sculpture, digital illustration, painting, and ceramics. Rooted in storytelling, her work explores themes of childhood memories, identity, migration, and cultural hybridity. Puspasari captures a spectrum of emotions—from innocence and anxiety to loss and sorrow—reflecting the complexities of human experience. Drawing inspiration from the colourful pop culture of Asia and the bold forms of Western design, she examines how cultural influences shape self-perception and belonging. She is a finalist for the 2024 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, North Queensland Ceramic Awards and was also recognised as a finalist in the 2023 Muswellbrook Art Prize, Hornsby Art Prize, and TRAILS Sculpture Prize.

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