Softly, We Become
Solo Exhibition by Nicky Raysa
Softly, We Become was my first solo exhibition, developed alongside my visual collaboration with Indonesian
singer-songwriter Monita Tahalea for her album Merona.
The exhibition brings together a series of paintings, art prints, animated lyric videos, and merchandise inspired by themes of waiting, growth, hope, and becoming. Through quiet moments and everyday scenes, the works explore the spaces between longing and fulfillment—those periods in life when we pause, reflect, and slowly move toward who we are becoming.
Recurring motifs such as flowers, birds, rain, and open landscapes appear throughout the exhibition, symbolising resilience, transformation, and the courage to keep hoping amidst uncertainty.
The visual language extends beyond the gallery walls into printed objects and merchandise, allowing the artworks to exist not only as exhibition pieces but also as part of everyday life.
The exhibition was held in Kopikalyan Menteng Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2026.
A collection of art prints featuring illustrations originally created for the stage visuals of Monita Tahalea's Merona Concert. Displayed on screen throughout the performance, these works were later adapted into printed editions, allowing the visual world of Merona to exist beyond the stage and into physical form.
Animated Lyric Video: Angan, Mr. Moon, Solenna, and Kehidupan
A series of four animated lyric videos created for songs from Merona. Three of the videos take a quieter, more minimal approach, using subtle movement and atmospheric imagery to support the music.
The fourth video is more narrative-driven, bringing together illustration, animation, and storytelling to create a fuller visual interpretation of the song. Together, the videos extend the themes of Softly, We Become through moving image and storytelling.
Click here to see the full videos:
Talking through the ideas, emotions, and small details that shaped the animated lyric videos, and sharing the work with visitors beyond the screen : )
A collection of moments from the exhibition day; paintings on the walls, conversations in between,
and the many faces that became part of Softly, We Become : )
Photos by: Syifa Sauqy, Albert Simbolon, Theo Fredika, and Salma Khoirunnisa