Driven by a profound admiration for children’s drawings and inspired by a lecture by Professor Primadi Tabrani during her studies at the Bandung Institute of Technology, Imaniar Rizki dedicated several years to working in the realm of children’s creativity. It was in 2017, whilst participating as an art facilitator for individuals with special needs, that she encountered a striking reality: there exist groups of adults who express themselves through drawing with the same intensity as children, despite facing challenges such as autism and intellectual disabilities.
Story by Vira Tanka Photos by Tab Space
Five years later, Imaniar founded Tab Space, a social enterprise committed to featuring the works of artists with intellectual disabilities. “We aim to provide support to artists and illustrators with disabilities, enabling them to play a significant role in the community ecosystem and earn a sustainable income. We firmly believe that with the right support system, disabled artists can thrive as professional practitioners,” she says.
Since then, Tab Space has collaborated with various commercial brands, musicians, and international organizations such as the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN to create merchandise. They have also actively participated in prestigious art events like ICAD XII in Jakarta and Open Arms at Selasar Sunaryo Art Space in Bandung. Additionally, their art prints and other creations are available at select concept stores in Bandung.
This Bandung-based enterprise maintains close communication with similar supported studios abroad, including Australia’s Art Leaders and Japan’s Cooca. Imaniar extends a heartfelt invitation: “We encourage everyone to observe their surroundings and seek opportunities to support disabled artists. This can be as simple as appreciating their work, purchasing their products, or even joining them in creating joyful art, just like us!”