Hibiscus mutabilis L.
24 x 30 cm
Watercolour on paper
2023
Si Buyung
IDR -
Si Buyung, with its pristine white colour as it first blooms in the morning. A hint of pink slowly fills each petal of its flower crown. The colour intensifies and turns completely pink as the day approaches dusk. Its large size and stacked crown make it appear full and captivating.
For me, this plant is laden with meaning, symbolizing hope and representing the journey of botanical art that I am currently pursuing. It starts with recognizing the plant as an object, arranging the composition, mastering the media, and then harmonizing the colours. All processed meticulously until a masterpiece is realized.
Similarly, life is a gradual journey to equip oneself with virtues and wisdom. Until finally, being able to spread benefits to the surrounding nature and others. Hopefully.
Rusdi Hartono Setiawan
Rusdi Hartono Setiawan was born in Jember in 1993. Since childhood, he has had a greater interest in the world of botany. This is due to his parents’ background in farming, which gave him more opportunities to interact with various plants.
While pursuing his undergraduate studies in Biology at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), he took many courses related to plant systematics and became a laboratory assistant. His love for plants did not stop there; he actively engaged in nature-loving activities, which provided him with more opportunities to interact with nature and get to know various plants in their natural habitats.
In 2018, he first encountered IDSBA and joined this community in late 2021 until now. The botanical art introduced by IDSBA artists resonates with his personal experience. For him, recognizing and interpreting plant characteristics through botanical illustrations holds its own solemnity.