JP/M. Faris Rachman

Putri Indonesia 2004 Artika Sari Devi is juggling between her role as a mother for Sarah Ebiela Ibrahim and an actress. This month, the 31-year-old mother is scheduled to visit Rome to discuss Opera Jawa, in which she plays the lead role. Artika is also busy with her new fashion line for children and a movie project set for filming in Aceh and Bali this year.

“In this new movie, I will play a single mother with two children after her husband died in a tsunami. The movie is related to Indonesian family in daily life and how a single mother struggles through it while raising her children. One of them will be a promising karate athlete in the future. Aside from my activity in the entertainment industry, I’m doing a project with a friend. I’ve always had a big passion for fashion. So, now I’m doing a fashion line for kids, Sugar Bebe Indonesia.

I put Indonesia on the label because I want to reduce our dependence on foreign fashion labels. Of course, we could not cut our dependency right away. My line is still having difficulties especially in getting the right kind of fabrics and buttons. So, basically we still use fabrics and buttons from China too.

But I hope this fashion line inspires Indonesia artisans and craftsmen to let more people know about the Indonesia fashion industry. Our collection for this line is actually a readyto- wear collection. But I want to make traditional clothes such as kebaya for kids too in the future.

For me, choosing clothes for kids as my business is basically a market strategy because there are not many competitors in this segment. Beside, I love children’s clothes.

Also, having a daughter makes me realize that kids have their own taste. I want to take a sewing course as soon as possible so I can keep up the pace. My hobbies: I’ve always loved swimming. Now, I swim and train my daughter to swim too. She loves being in the water like her mother.

After giving birth, I think I’m not that concerned about my appearance. But because I am a full-time mother now, I also still do various workouts. I do it at home and not very often. Until recently I didn’t use a nanny for Sarah, so looking after her was actually a cardio workout for me. For me breast-feeding my daughter is a must-do for me as a mother. Breast-feeding is also a great natural way to lose maternity weight. This June, I will attend a discussion forum in Rome, Italy, for the movie Opera Jawa that was directed by Mas Garin (Nugroho).

At fi rst, I never thought that this movie could receive such attention. It isn’t a commercial movie. I’ve received a few awards such as Best Actress from Brussels International Independent Film Festival 2008 and The Festival of the Three Continents in France for my role in this movie. The movie was also nominated for the Venice Film Festival.

I can proudly say that starring in this movie opened a way to step into the Indonesian entertainment industry.

— As told to M. Faris Rachman

Popular

Govt eyes September for mass relocation of civil servants to Nusantara

Govt claims 'mudik' 2024 traffic management a success

Public hopes swell ahead of election dispute ruling