Maria Rosa Mystica

Your work blends graphic design with deep emotional and spiritual themes. How did this intersection of art and introspection begin for you?

My creative process began with the simple act of writing down the inner unrest I was feeling — the unresolved questions and emotional tensions that surfaced in quiet moments. Through reflection, I came to see that these thoughts were often rooted in deeper questions about who I am and where my soul belongs in the larger scheme of the universe. What began as personal introspection gradually transformed into the core narrative that shapes my artistic work today.

“The Art of Slowing Down” is both a visual and philosophical project. What inspired you to explore the contrast between speed and stillness?

Through illustration, I explore moments when the soul speaks, particularly in a series titled The Art of Slowing Down, which reflects on slowness as a quiet form of resistance and self-awareness. Inspired by early career observations and later influenced by texts like Paul Lafargue’s The Right to Be Lazy, this body of work has evolved over more than a decade. It invites reflection on how we can reconnect with our instincts and deeper purpose while navigating a fast-paced world—not by rejecting urgency, but by learning to balance movement with stillness.

Maria Mystica | Create Your Balance | 2025

Many of your illustrations contain subtle humor and warmth—how important is playfulness in your creative process?

My artistic practice is rooted in emotional honesty, drawing deep inspiration from the world of stand-up comedy—where vulnerability is transformed into shared laughter and truth is delivered with warmth and wit. I aim to bring that same unfiltered expression into my illustrations, creating work that feels sincere, instinctive, and alive. Humor and subtlety are not simply aesthetic choices for me; they are essential tools for connection, reflection, and authenticity. They allow me to explore complex emotions in a gentle, human way.

This approach took shape through my exploration of comedic writing, influenced by The New Comedy Bible by Judy Carter and a stand-up workshop at the École du One Man Show in Paris. These experiences taught me how humor can disarm, reveal, and resonate—lessons I carry into every piece I create. My visual language is a blend of playfulness and emotional depth, always seeking to communicate with soul.

Can you share a personal moment of “slowing down” that influenced a particular illustration in this series?

My work begins in stillness. I explore the moments when intuition surfaces—when we pause long enough to hear the softer, often overlooked voices within: playfulness, memory, uncertainty, emotion.

This sensitivity to pace is not just about how I create, but why. Influenced by personal experience, philosophical texts, and critical questions about modern systems, my work seeks to reconnect with instinct and question the structures that separate us from meaning. Much like the figure of Sisyphus in Camus’ philosophy, I find value in the act of making itself—an ongoing, conscious return to presence, without the need for justification or grand narrative.

Ultimately, I aim for my illustrations to feel alive—not just visually, but emotionally. They are invitations to pause, reflect, and remember that our inner voice still speaks, even amidst the noise.

Maria Mystica | Listen to Your Conscience | 2025

Your color palettes are very distinctive. How do you choose them, especially for emotionally driven themes?

This project began just as spring approached. In Paris, spring often evokes the tradition of hanami—the Japanese custom of appreciating cherry blossoms—which finds its parallel here when Parisians gather to admire the blooming sakura in Parc de Sceaux.

The symbolism of spring as a time of renewal and new beginnings became the guiding inspiration for both the theme and the color palette. The soft pink of the sakura flower served as the starting point, with additional hues thoughtfully selected to support and deepen the emotional tone. By limiting the palette to 3–5 colors, the work achieves a sense of clarity, balance, and visual harmony.

As someone who has lived in both Indonesia and France, how do these cultures influence your artistic vision?

Having lived between Indonesia and France, my artistic vision is shaped by both cultures: Indonesia instills in me a deep spirituality, humility, and appreciation for stillness and intuition, while France fosters critical thinking, individuality, and refined visual language. A key influence bridging these worlds is Tan Malaka’s Madilog, which advocates blending materialism, dialectics, and logic to challenge inherited beliefs—a philosophy that mirrors my own creative balance between emotional depth and structured reasoning. This fusion of intuition and critical analysis informs how I tell visual stories, use color, and explore the intersection of personal and collective experience in my work.

Maria Mystica | The Art of Slowing Down | 2025

What role does intuition play in your design process?

Intuition is at the heart of my design process, guiding me beyond logic into a more emotional, instinctive space where authentic ideas emerge. As if reminded of Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being, I view creativity as a state of openness and presence. By allowing space to pause, reflect, and trust my initial sparks, I create work that is not only visually refined but also emotionally alive and deeply honest. Opening possibilities for a new way of being.