XENIA SABINA

Xenia Sabina Lembono is a London-based Indonesian interdisciplinary designer.

With a background in Architecture from Universitas Pelita Harapan, she has worked on diverse projects in the fields of architecture, interior design, public spaces, and social-cultural initiatives. Driven by a profound passion for Indonesian culture, Xenia pursued Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design, where she cultivated a keen interest in sustainability and zero-waste practices inspired by the rich traditions of Indonesian textiles.

Throughout her journey at the Royal College of Art, Xenia's focus expanded beyond environmental sustainability to embrace the social dimensions, advocating for the well-being of individuals and society. She transforms concepts into creations using various mediums: fashion, fonts, films, spoken words, performances, and spaces. Her work encourages people to engage their senses, to see, be seen, smell, hear, be heard, think, understand, feel, experience, and be fully present. Through her creative practice, Xenia aims to cultivate consciousness, foster sustainability, honoring the richness of cultural heritage, and embracing the complexities of the human experience.

Xenia is a recipient the LPDP - Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education Scholarship and was named the winner of the 2023 Royal College of Art x International Flavours and Fragrances Scent Project.

This body of work is deeply motivated by the need to reflect upon history through the lens of her personal identity. As someone who is ethnically Chinese and born and raised in Indonesia, she is driven to investigate the intricate layers of her identity and the complex narratives that have shaped it, including gender, ethnicity, and religion.

Drawing from her own as well as the collective experiences, she utilizes her practice as a platform to illuminate hidden stories and their impact on clothing norms and societal expectations. Her creative process involves translating deep emotions and untold stories into tangible forms using various mediums such as material explorations, garments, words, performances, and installations. By infusing these emotions and historical narratives into her creations, she aims to raise awareness, create a safe space for dialogue about the safety and well-being of individuals, particularly women, within society.

The Rest

The Rest is one small path in a race to care for oneself, others, and the planet.

Rest is a time to reflect.

The bare necessities for human survival include food, water, clothing, shelter, and sleep.

As consumers, how much of these essentials do we truly require?

As creators, how many must we produce?

Perhaps what we truly need is more rest, a chance to pause, reassess, and find balance.

The garment can be worn in several ways to address overproduction and overconsumption issues.

Eyes on My Eyes

Looking for the I, the eye.

Where is home? What is home?

Outside my country, I call myself Indonesian. In my country, they call me ‘Chinese’.

Dice of eyes – A performative piece as expression of switching identities - to be invisible, to be seen, to feel safe, to be accepted.

happy new fear - hope now you

cultural-identity design-activism identity identity-and-body installation installation-art performance space-installation

Indigenous Indonesian

Indogenous is driven by understanding her personal identity as a Chinese and born and raised in Indonesia.

Through her work, she explores the experiences of being a female, investigating into the history of indigenous Indonesian women, the impact of colonialism, and the influence of clothing norms on society. Her aim is to capture these emotions and translate them into visuals, material exploration garments, and more.

This body of work serves as a powerful expression of her yearning to be visible, to feel safe, and to fully embrace her female body. It marks the beginning of her voice in society, raising awareness about themes of femininity, ethnicity, acceptance, and personal liberty. By transmuting the image of the Indonesian Indigenous Female Body before the era of colonialism, she utilizes various mediums to give it a presence in contemporary times.

art-scent book-design graphic-design scent scent-creation trauma wellness writing

Therapoetic

Therapoetic is a compassionate, creative, cathartic tool aimed at restoring the connection with oneself and within oneself. By utilizing scent as the primary medium, it offers a therapeutic approach through scented writing and drawing therapy, allowing individuals to reframe their sense of self.

Make it write till it make scents.

Winning project of RCA x IFF 2023

This set of instruments combines the act of inhaling scents and exhaling words to access deeper emotions and facilitate trauma healing. Divided into three chapters, each scent represents a specific phase of the healing journey.

Re(dis)cover: The first step in trauma healing is by acknowledging it. The scent in this phase aims to ground individuals and initiate a journey of self-discovery by identifying patterns and perceptions.

Re(de)fine: The emphasis shifts to reframing unpleasant memories. The scent chosen for this phase provides a soothing sensation, offering comfort while exploring the reasons behind remembering unwanted experiences.

Re(a)l ease: The final chapter, draws inspiration from the ritual of cleansing. This scent accompanies a ritual that aims to detach from and reconnect with emotions, fostering a healthier relationship with pain, the brain, the body, and others.

Through Therapoetic, individuals are invited to engage in a transformative process, using scent as a powerful catalyst for self-reflection, and trauma healing.