Artist Collaboration / 16
For our 16th peer-to-peer collaboration, Indonesian Tab space artist Achmad Ilham Sadikin, collaborated with Australia artist Vipoo Srivilasa. This project is supported by grant funding from the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Creative Australia and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and its Arts Grants Program.
Achmad Ilham Sadikin
Ilham is a peer-to-peer artist paired with Vipoo. He is a Bandung-based neurodivergent artist who has been creating since childhood.
Inspired by his childhood surgery, which led him to describe himself as half robot, half human, Ilham explores robotic visual elements in his practice, spanning two-dimensional drawings and paintings as well as three-dimensional works in ceramics and mixed media.
Growing up in a loving family that embraces sustainable living, he often incorporates discarded materials into his creations, transforming them into imaginative sculptures of animals such as ostriches, dragonflies, and crabs. Ilham is currently part of Tab Space and has participated in several projects and exhibitions, including Open Arms (2023, 2024), Panasonic Art with Heart (2025), and the ASEAN Disability Artist Exhibition MASAGI (2025).
Photograph credit Achmad Ilham Sadikin and Tab Space
Vipoo Srivilasa
Vipoo is a peer-to-peer artist paired with Ilham. He is a Thai-born Australian artist based in Melbourne, is a prominent figure in contemporary ceramics.
With over two decades of experience, his works explore themes of home, migration, and spirituality, creating accessible, positive art that invites connection whilst uncovering deeper narratives. His practice blends European porcelain figurine aesthetics with Asian deity statues, reflecting cross-cultural experiences.
Blue and white symbolise cultural movement, whilst gold connects Thai traditions with Australia, representing evolving identity shaped by migration.
Vipoo's work has been exhibited internationally and throughout Australia at major institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, with pieces held in collections worldwide.
Photograph credit Vipoo Srivilasa
ARTWORK BEFORE THE COLLABORATION
Click on each image below for a larger view of each artist’s work before the collaboration. Caption details appear when you hover over the works.
THE BEGINNING
Over and in-person meeting and several Zoom sessions, each artist got to learn more about the other artist, their art practices, studios and working environments. Early in the collaboration Vipoo and Ilham shared images of their artwork. Then they met in person in Bandung, Indonesia! It was a fortuitous meeting, Vipoo was already travelling to Indonesia and made the time to travel to meet Ilham, Tab Space and his family. They discussed their art over meals, shared stories and drew together. They discovered they had interests in common, even though they live in very different environments.
The Zoom image appearing here shows the artist’s first Zoom meeting, from top left clockwise: Vipoo, Sim from Art et al., Imaniar from Tab Space, and Cakra from Tab Space, Ilham and his parents.
MEETING IN BANDUNG
Sessions were hard to organise given the artist’s schedules, personal lives and the time difference. What built a strong foundation for this collaboration was the in-person meeting the artists had early in the project. The artists clicked and Vipoo was introduced to Ilham’s family and the Tab Space team, while they shared food, took photographs and made art together. Meeting in person is a rare event in our peer-to-peer collaborations, so this was a very special event for everyone. See below for images of the artists encounter.
“I had an absolute blast visiting Ilham at his studio and meeting his parents. What a lovely family. It was a highlight of my trip. The studio is beautiful, and they cooked the most AMAZING lunch for us. Just absolutely wonderful.”
Here are the some of the studies/photographs Ilham’s parents took of Ilham and Vipoo during the meet-up in Bandung.
THE THEMES
Following Vipoo and Ilham’s first meeting and Zoom sessions, they shared their interests, passions and possible artwork directions. While the project has shifted throughout the collaboration, here were some of the early ideas shared with us:
We’ll each create 7–10 drawings of superheroes that could help make our lives better. On small size paper. I think half a4 size. Which Ilham used for our portraits.
Then we’ll swap drawings and each make three small-scale sculptures inspired by the ones we received.
Ilham’s parents took portrait photos of us. We’ll each choose [photos] to print, then draw, paint, or collage over it.
CONNECTING
“I feel like I really connected with Ilham. We sketched each other’s portraits while chatting about what we’d like to do for the collaboration. Ilham is keen to do some drawings and would love to see [sculpture] works inspired by them. I’m interested in working with photography and small sculptures.”
CREATING NEW SUPERHEROES
Vipoo and Ilham decided they would explore the concept of superheroes through intimate, collaborative artmaking - creating small-scale drawings that would inspire sculptural works from each other. Vipoo planned to work on A4 sized paper, a similar scale that Ilham had used for their portrait sketches during their studio visit. The plan was for each artist to create superhero drawings, then swap these works to inspire small sculptures.
During their collaboration, both artists worked on developing their superhero concepts following on from their in-person meeting and through Zoom calls. Progress images were then exchanged over email, so ideas were unfolding before our eyes.
Ilham focused on drawing characters that could help improve daily life, sketching with the careful attention to detail that had impressed Vipoo during their portrait session. His superheroes emerged with thoughtful expressions and poses that spoke to real human needs. Vipoo, inspired by their studio visit and the warm hospitality of Ilham's family, began incorporating elements of connection and community into his superhero concepts. When Ilham's drawings featured symbols of protection and care, similar motifs appeared in Vipoo's work, and the same happened with gestures of helping hands and expressions of kindness.
What we loved throughout this process was seeing how their initial studio meeting - where Ilham's parents had photographed them and cooked that amazing lunch - continued to influence their artistic dialogue. Both artists spoke about wanting to blend their different mediums: Ilham's keen interest in drawing meeting Vipoo's expertise in ceramics, while also exploring the photographic portraits as another layer of their collaboration. The small scale of the works created an intimacy that reflected their genuine connection, turning their superhero concept into something deeply personal about the heroes we need in our everyday lives.
VIPOO SRIVILASA
Two of Vipoo’s superheroes feature here.
Vipoo Srivilasa 'Sleep Superhero' 2025 29.7 × 21 cm | Koala cuddles you with calm. Snake scares bad dreams away. With a bunch of lavender in hand, they help you sleep safe and sound.
Vipoo Srivilasa 'Exercise Superhero' 2025 29.7 × 21 cm | With the body of a dumbbell and the head of a kettlebell, this hero boosts your energy and keeps you moving—no excuses!
ACHMAD ILHAM SADIKIN
Two of Ilham’s superheroes feature here.
Achmad Ilham Sadikin ‘Dr Whisker Bot’ 2025 29.7 × 21cm | Dr. Whisker Bot is a scientist cat robot. He has various advanced tools on his body, like levers, gears, and control panels. With a serious and calculated expression, He is the brain behind this superhero team, serving as the strategist and tech expert. He’ll help you find the TV remote that suddenly disappears right when your show gets good.
Achmad Ilham Sadikin ‘Metro Bot-Cat’ 2025 29.7 × 21 cm | Metro Bot-Cat is a cat robot covered in buttons and levers, resembling a game console and high-tech device. He serves as the team's communication and digital control centre. He’ll help you find your phone that slipped under the pillow—and play your favourite ringtone so you end up smiling to yourself.
SUPERHERO SCULPTURES
As a natural extension of the superhero drawings, Vipoo and Ilham created sculptures that brought the two-dimensional images to life! Below are progress images of several sculptures, which we will update with the final outcomes closer to the exhibition launch.
Here are Zoom stills of Vipoo & Ilham’s meetings.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We ask each artist a few questions about their collaboration.
What was your favourite part of the collaboration?
What was the experience of meeting Vipoo in Bandung like? What did you do there?
Can you describe Vipoo in just three words?
Can you speak to what you made during the collaboration?
What was is about exploring ‘superheroes’ that inspired you?
What do you hope audiences get from seeing this collaboration?
What was the biggest surprise for you during the collaboration?
What was the biggest challenge for you during the collaboration?
For others potentially undertaking peer-to-peer collaborations in the future, what would be your advice to them?
THANK YOU
With thanks to Tab Space staff including Cakra and Imaniar, Ilham’s family, Ilham and Vipoo for working so passionately on this peer-to-peer collaboration. Special thanks also to our project funders the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Creative Australia and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and its Arts Grants Program.