Ina Leah
About
Introducing Ina Leah, formerly known as Gabriela Fernandez, an Indonesian multidisciplinary artist blending music, participatory performance, visual art, dance, poetry, and moving images to create immersive, transformative experiences. As a neurodivergent artist with a psychology background, Ina Leah has been focusing on art’s healing power, advocating for neurodiversity and mental wellbeing throughout her career.
Rooted in the traditions of Lamaholot culture in East Nusa Tenggara, her work celebrates cultural heritage while innovating for contemporary art practices. From her “Trip Menuju Timur” presearch project to performances on stage or other unique site-specific contexts, her art fosters connection, community, and mental health awareness through embodied and archival participatory art.
Through her vast and diverse medium explorations and public facing project co-creation, Ina Leah not only poses the question but actively seeks to answer:
“Can we develop collective art experiences that are participative and inclusive, to enhance our mental wellbeing in this contemporary context?”
Supported by a fully funded LPDP National scholarship of Indonesia, Ina Leah takes this new step into the fine art world, after years of professional music making and workshop facilitating in her country.
Throughout her study in Royal College of Art, Ina Leah performed her interactive art “Leah’s Universe: On Recovery” in St George’s Hospital Art’s Week Festival; offering her meditative music to the public within the cityscape through Wandsworth Art Fringe 2024; published an epistolary essay “Ina Wae Neket Tane: A Song For You” in the book On the Bias (an RCA History of Design and Parson Paris Collaboration); screened her 2019 movie “Menuju Timur” combined with a poetry performance, and many more. Ina Leah was also chosen as a nominee of Emerging Art Prize New Blood Art 2024, which was still ongoing when this text is written. As a neurodivergent artist, she gives back to her community by developing and executing an inclusive, expressive art workshop to the RCA Neurodiversity Society. She presented her work as a guest lecturer in Ohio University , also produced numerous paintings and multidisciplinary artworks within the year.
Her Degree show in #RCA2024 was a work in progress, involving the audience in her research process by activating collective dance and singing workshops, movie screening, interactive installation, and series of live performances in development: Circle-Cycle.
As a founder of Akarupa.id–an art for wellbeing platform, she also offers therapeutic art workshops and products, emphasizing the connection between art and wellbeing, while continues to explore art’s role in collective healing and fostering human connection.
Note: Upon graduation, Ina Leah is actively based in London, and offers session of therapeutic and expressive art as well as trans-disciplinary, interactive performances. Kindly click one of these links to get in touch and collaborate:
Music / Live Painting / Participatory Performances | Workshop Facilitating | Buy her Paintings | Cultural Research on Indonesian Music, Dance, and Collective Craft Practices |
Content Warning
The content on this website may contain themes and materials that some users find distressing or offensive. Further, the content on this website may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 18. User discretion is advised.
Any views and opinions expressed in this student profile represent the views and opinions of the student and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Royal College of Art or its employees or affiliates. The appearance of any views or opinions on this page do not constitute endorsement of those views by the Royal College of Art. This student profile has been made available for informational purposes only. The Royal College of Art does not make any representations or warranties with regard to the accuracy of any information provided in this student profile, nor does it warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any listed or linked sites. The Royal College of Art is not responsible for the content submitted by any user, or for the defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of any user. If you wish to report any errors or inappropriate material that may cause offence, please email feedback@rca.ac.uk