SHOWCASE
/ ARTIST / 2025
| ARTIST: | wirtams |
| COUNTRY: | Indonesia |
| EMAIL: | tarawima@gmail.com |
| CONTACT: |
wirtams wira tama @wirtams |
| Hi, I’m Wirtams—a full-time illustrator based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Born in Medan on May 15, 1991, I studied fine arts and have been working as an illustrator and comic artist since 2015. My work combines narrative illustration in a cartoon-comic style, featuring bright colors and a touch of humor. Beyond commercial projects, I regularly create satirical illustrations that respond to political and social issues, both local and global, which I share on Instagram via @wirtams. |
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Danantara Corporation
This image presents Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial former Prime Minister of Thailand, now re-emerging in a new role—as an advisor to Danantara, a newly established sovereign company in Indonesia.His presence at the helm of such a strategic institution raises familiar questions about influence, power, and public memory. Interestingly, unlike ordinary employees, advisors of Danantara appear to require no certificate of good conduct. In circles of high power, it seems, reputations are not checked—they are curated.
Smoking Break
The Power Rangers were always there—ready to battle monsters anytime, anywhere. As children, we accepted this without question. We never wondered, 'When do they rest?'But as adults, having faced the grind of working life, new questions begin to surface:
Did the Power Rangers ever take a smoke break? How high was their stress level? Did they have days off, or were they perpetually on call for world-saving duty?
What once seemed like tireless heroism now feels oddly familiar—an endless cycle of crisis management without pause.
Banana Stall
A picture of a middle-aged woman relaxing and smoking while waiting for customers.
Warteg
A warteg is a traditional Indonesian food stall, originally from the city of Tegal in Central Java. It serves a variety of simple, home-style dishes that are displayed in glass cases, allowing customers to pick and choose their meals. Wartegs are known for offering affordable, hearty food that appeals especially to workers, students, and everyday people. The atmosphere is usually casual and unpretentious, making it a popular spot for quick, satisfying meals. Despite its simplicity, the warteg holds a special place in Indonesian culture as a symbol of accessible, communal dining.
Batman drinking from starling
Starling" is an informal term in Indonesia referring to mobile coffee stalls that roam neighborhoods selling instant coffee sachets, styled after Starbucks. Unlike specialty coffee shops, Starling serves quick and affordable coffee made from coffee sachets, catering to people who want a fast caffeine fix on the go. These mobile stalls bring the Starbucks vibe in a simple, budget-friendly way, making coffee culture accessible to a wider audience. It’s a clever adaptation of a popular brand’s image, tailored to local tastes and economic realities.
Vin with new family
Inspired by the iconic Khong Guan tin painting, which depicts a mother and her two children enjoying their tea time, this artwork has become a popular anecdote among Indonesian social media users. It often symbolizes an absent father who shirks his responsibilities and abandons his family. By adding the character Dominic Toretto—played by Vin Diesel—as the father figure, I want to play with Dominic Toretto’s core principle that family always comes first.
All Grown Up Telletubbies
An imaginary portrait of the Teletubbies as adults, each having taken a different path in life.
Metallica Family
An illustration created as a tribute to Metallica.