Pucuk is a good representation of the new world of young and rising artists in Asia. Born in Bali, she was raised in Yogyakarta (where she is based) and recently graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore.

She grew up in a family of artists. Her grandfather was a woodcarver and her father, one of Bali’s best-known artists. Growing up in such a family, Pucuk tells me she was naturally drawn to art. “It was quite natural that I would be an artist,” says the self-deprecating Pucuk.

Asked what inspired the work submitted for her graduation, the 21-year-old artist said, “I try and walk the line between contemporary and commercial. I want to find a balance between the two worlds. I also want to reconnect with my roots which I didn’t have much of a chance to really touch on growing up.”

As described in her bio, “Pucuk’s works explore the intricacies of labels, identity and sense of self while making note of cultural roots, tradition and its antithesis. The illustrative narrative of their works are often depicted through the use of mythology, animals, figures and body horror in various painting media.”

Pucuk will be on-site at WiT Singapore on October 4 to create a collaborative interpretation of the conference theme “Hello, New World”. Her work will be auctioned at the closing party on October 5 to raise funds for the Himmapaan Foundation, Thailand.

Asked what comes to mind with the words “new world”, she said, “I think of skin being shed. I visited Bali last December and I saw shops closed, empty streets and people lost their business. You need a purging, cleansing process for something new to begin.”