I fell in love with this plant for the first time through photos on Indonesian flora fan accounts on Instagram , especially when I saw its unique leaf shape resembling rabbit ears, and even more so after seeing its unusual inflorescence. I became more curious after learning that Cyrtosperma hambalii A.Dearden & A.Hay is a native plant of Papua, but faced obstacles in obtaining its seedlings due to its expensive prices on online marketplaces. Eventually, through Ms. Yanti IDSBA’s connections, I was able to obtain C. hambalii seedlings directly from Papua at a more affordable price.

I chose C. hambalii as the subject of my artwork because of its unique leaf shape, known among plant enthusiasts as “rabbit ears.” Among plant hobbyists both domestically and internationally, this plant is highly valued and sold for its unique leaf shape.

This native Papua plant usually grows in the depths of rainforests and can reach up to one meter in height. Its leaves grow up to thirty cm long with stems featuring a pattern of dark dots on a light background. Its flowers have dark brown stalks that grow separately from the leaves and can reach up to fifty cm in length. New shoots grow from its rhizomes.

To complete this “Si Kelinci” artwork, I used reference photos of C. hambalii obtained from plant enthusiasts, as well as the actual plant for cross-referencing its physical characteristics. I started by sketching on an A3-sized drawing paper, creating two sketches as alternatives for this artwork. The challenge in capturing this subject on paper lies mainly in its composition. Since the plant’s flowers actually tower above its leaves, the composition was aimed to showcase its unique leaf characteristics while also highlighting its attractive flowers.

The message I want to convey is that Indonesia is a treasure trove of biodiversity, with many Indonesian flora riches still unknown to the wider community. Therefore, this subject was chosen to further introduce the wealth of Indonesian flora.