For Juan Bio One, Art is the Path to Immortality
The celebrated Indonesian actor reflects on creativity as a way to make others feel human again, and on art as the elixir for everlasting life
The actor who elevates creativity into philosophy
Three years ago, Juan Bio One won the Best Lead Actor award for a comedy film at the 2022 Indonesian Journalist Film Festival. His portrayal of the late Gepeng, one of Indonesia’s most iconic comedians, in Srimulat: Hil yang Mustahal was the talk of the town: in a previous interview, Juan revealed that he lost a great deal of weight and spent time with Gepeng’s family to flawlessly embody the late comedian’s physicality, gestures, and manner of speaking.
While embodying characters has been Juan’s foremost creative expression for over two decades now, the 27-year-old finds satisfaction in exploring other artistic endeavors: music, DJ gigs, sculpting, fashion, and more. Not one to be contained in a box, Juan has evolved into one of Indonesia’s most experimental and intriguing individuals.
“I just have so much love to give within this creative world,” Juan explains when asked what keeps him driven. “I think every artist has this sensitivity—this particular way of looking at the world—that keeps their creative juices flowing.”
For Juan, his chosen craft is more than just a job or bringing a character to life: it’s ultimately a way for others to feel human again. “Seeing works of art that teach others how to be human inspires me to keep going as an artist. By creating art, I get to put my heart and soul into things that affect other people, and I like that,” he notes.
What makes Indonesian creativity different
As someone who ties his creative practice toward a sense of community, Juan is inspired by Indonesia’s diverse cultures and how each region has its own idea of how creativity and community can thrive. In particular, he cites the Balinese philosophy of ‘tri hita karana,’ or ‘the three causes of well-being:’ harmony with God, among people, and with nature.
“In my point of view, most aspects of our art are influenced by that Balinese saying. I find that many Indonesian creatives get to make something beautiful by embodying ‘tri hita karana.’ If there’s something that the world needs to learn more about Indonesian artists, they should look at ‘tri hita karana’ and how it reflects in our practice.”
It’s this unapologetic embodiment of local culture that keeps Juan inspired to create more art beyond borders, and it’s something he sees across various Southeast Asian creatives as well. “They keep doing their own thing without caring whether they’ll make it big—what’s important is that they’re being their own selves. And if we want the world to take more notice of Southeast Asian culture, we just have to keep on creating.”
“Besides, man cannot die because of art, and art cannot die because of man,” Juan affirms. “With that, I’m just going to keep creating art until I die.”
Read the story in the pages of VMAN SEA 02: now available for purchase!
Photography Arief Ointoe
Creative direction and Fashion Maheen Nisar
Grooming Nadhira Alatas
Hair Cosmelynn
Production Maison Balans
