King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life

King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life is part of “The Pomegranate” body of work explores the art and the prosperity symbolisms of the pomegranate in many cultures through the ages. The body of work in this collection takes you on the journey of the pomegranate as the symbol of hope and prosperity since the prehistoric Sumerian time.

King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm

Exhibited at the Austro American Institute of Education in Vienna.

Ratih Luhur

Welcome to the website of my good friend, Ratih Luhur.

Ratih is so many things – artist, illustrator, multimedia designer, digital strategist, brand conceptualist, spiritualist and counsellor. And she brings to all of those a life experience which began growing up in Indonesia, studying and working in Australia, travelling the world, and more recently living in Europe. To that she adds passion, concern, awareness, talent and commitment.

As you will see from exploring this site, Ratih’s art practice spans multiple mediums including large format watercolour, digital art, photography, sgraffito ceramic, sculpture, installations made with organic and upcycled materials. They demonstrate minimalist concepts with refined details, multiple layers of meaning and symbolism. And they reflect her lived experience of a variety of cultures in Asia, Europe and Australia. Most recently Ratih has produced an emblematic work for the City of Sydney’s celebration of the Year of the Snake in 2025.

You will also see Ratih’s commitment to the cultural and environmental campaigns and causes on which she has worked.

Ratih was a natural choice to design and build my website, which helps me reach out to my clients, and to a broader community interested in the same things that fascinate me. Ratih makes it easy to keep the site relevant, secure and up-to-date.

I’m sure you’ll find much to enjoy and appreciate as you explore this site. And I’m certain that if you’re inspired to work with Ratih on a project, you’ll be delighted with both the experience and the results. Ratih works with clients from Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Saul Eslake

*Saul Eslake is a leading Australian economist, speaker, company director and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania.

Charming Prosperity

Year of the Snake. Lunar New Year Festival, 2025
City of Sydney, NSW, Australia
exhibited on
Park Street, between Elizabeth Street and College Street, Sydney
See Map
more details coming soon!


Charming Prosperity, beautifully captures the harmony of yin and yang through unity and balance. The golden calligraphy snakes, forming the Chinese character for "snake" (蛇), create a dynamic, visually captivating composition. The artwork evolves across three stages, as the snakes shed their skins, symbolising a transformative journey towards renewal, prosperity, and ascension.

The vibrant multicoloured scales revealed during this process reflect the diversity of Sydney's vibrant multicultural community and life itself. The act of shedding skin embodies universal themes of transformation and the beauty of change, showcasing nature's resilience and its ability to ascend to new heights. Across cultures, the snake’s renewal process signifies growth, rebirth, and personal evolution—a metaphor for overcoming challenges, embracing transitions, and achieving spiritual awakening.

First Stage:
The golden calligraphy snakes form the Chinese character for snake, symbolising unity, balance, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Second Stage:
As the snakes shed their skin, peonies emerge — a traditional Lunar New Year motif symbolising good fortune and fresh beginnings. Revered as the “king of flowers,” peonies represent prosperity, abundance, honour, harmonious relationships, resilience, and strength.

Third Stage:
When the shedding is complete, vibrant multicoloured scales are revealed, representing the diversity of Sydney’s vibrant multicultural communities.
The sky is adorned with the mega mendung (sunray and cloud) pattern. The mega mendung is under consideration by UNESCO as an Intangible World Heritage. It brings together Chinese influence in Indonesian coastal batik and is deeply tied to the artist’s Chinese-Indonesian heritage.

Charming Prosperity embodies the themes of harmony, abundance, resilience, regrowth, and longevity. It inspires viewers to embrace transformation, celebrate diversity, and find strength in change while cultivating positive energy for their journeys.

How do you embrace change in your life? Let this artwork inspire you to shed the old and welcome new beginnings.

Charming Prosperity: 3 sets of diptychs of 1.5 x 4.5m, installed as 28 street banners on Park Street, Hyde Park, Sydney.

Awards

Angkor Live-in Museum
William Van Allen Prize Honourable Mention
William Van Alen Memorial Fellowship International Competition
Van Allen Institute - NIAE, New York, USA

Sidney L. Katz Memorial Prize for Presentation
William Van Alen Memorial Fellowship International Competition
Van Allen Institute - NIAE, New York, USA




Arts Grants

Our Neighbours Our Friends
City of Sydney Community Grant, 2011
exhibited at
The City of Sydney Community Centres

Stories from Our Streets
City of Sydney Community Grant, 2010
exhibited at
Kings Cinema, Power House Museum, Sydney
and
The City of Sydney Community Centres


Qualifications

Master of Visual Arts (Multi Media)
Honours
Sydney College of the Arts
The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 1999
Achieved High Distinction in all fields of study

Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age
Best Graduate
Harvard
The Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, 2022
Achieved 99,6%

Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Business
Emeritus Scholar
Columbia Business School Executive Education
MIT Sloan Executive Education, 2021
Achieved 100% in all fields of study

Bachelor of Science (Architecture)
The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 1991


Arts Residencies

All that We Are
Sandford, Tasmania, Australia, 2025


Arts


Installation
The Hessian Shawl @ Sustainable Chippendale

Organic Art on Hessian Shawl @ Sustainable Chippendale - 2016

Life-size organic sprouts, amaranth red garnet microgreens on a hessian shawl.

An organic art installation created to engage public interest in Sustainable Chippendale. It is intended as a starting point, a launching pad to encourage community participation and ownership of their environment.

An installation at 8 Myrtle Street Chippendale, created to set a precedent for future developments of organic living spaces along the street. Featuring a photo of Tayrona Park, Colombia to reflect the cultural heritage of the resident. It was planted with exotic microgreens, specially selected for a variety of organic colours and textures. Rocket emeralds on the chair, amaranth red garnets on the hessian shawl, mung beans and peas in the planter basket. The green butterfly swinging on a thin wire spoke of gentle childlike fun as it swayed with the breeze. The wooden frame was intentionally left empty, an inviting and inspiring blank canvas for community participation.

Sustainable Chippendale
Founded in 2010, Sustainable Chippendale is the first sustainable suburb in Sydney. It is a community initiative for sustainable living. The initiative became possible with strong commitment from highly motivated local residents led by Michael Mobbs in cooperation with the City of Sydney Council.

Concept Development and Technical Advice: Sjef van Klooster.

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Sustainable Chippendale

Organic Art Installation @Sustainable Chippendale - 2016

Life size, recycled furniture items, organic sprouts, amaranth red garnet microgreen on hessian shawl.

An organic art installation created to engage public interest in Sustainable Chippendale. It is intended as a starting point, a launching pad to encourage the community participation and ownership of their environment.

An installation at 8 Myrtle Street Chippendale, created to set precedent for future developments of organic living spaces along the street. Featuring a photo of Tayrona Park (Colombia) to reflect the cultural heritage of the resident. It was planted with exotic microgreens, specially selected for a variety of organic colours and textures. Rocket emeralds on the chair, amaranth red garnets on the hessian shawl, mung beans and peas in the planter basket. The green butterfly swinging on a thin wire spoke of gentle childlike fun as it swayed with the breeze. The wooden frame was intentionally left empty, an inviting and inspiring blank canvas for community participation.

Sustainable Chippendale
Founded in 2010, Sustainable Chippendale is the first sustainable suburb in Sydney. It is a community initiative for sustainable living. The initiative became possible with the strong commitment of highly motivated local residents led by Michael Mobbs in cooperation with the City of Sydney Council.

Concept Development and Technical Advice: Sjef van Klooster.
Photography: Sjef van Klooster.

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Tayrona Park, Colombia @ Sustainable Chippendale

Organic Art Installation @Sustainable Chippendale - 2016

Life size, recycled furniture items, organic sprouts, amaranth red garnet microgreens on hessian shawl.

An organic art installation created to engage public interest in Sustainable Chippendale. It is intended as a starting point, a launching pad to encourage community participation and ownership of their environment.

An installation at 8 Myrtle Street Chippendale, created to set a precedent for future developments of organic living spaces along the street. Featuring a photo of Tayrona Park (Colombia) to reflect the cultural heritage of the resident. It was planted with exotic microgreens, specially selected for a variety of organic colours and textures. Rocket emeralds on the chair, amaranth red garnets on the hessian shawl, mung beans and peas in the planter basket. The green butterfly swinging on a thin wire spoke of gentle childlike fun as it swayed with the breeze. The wooden frame was intentionally left empty, an inviting and inspiring blank canvas for community participation.

Sustainable Chippendale
Founded in 2010, Sustainable Chippendale is the first sustainable suburb in Sydney. It is a community initiative for sustainable living. The initiative became possible with the strong commitment from highly motivated local residents led by Michael Mobbs in cooperation with the City of Sydney Council.

Concept Development and Technical Advice: Sjef van Klooster
Photography: Maria Prada Photography

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Watercolour
King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life

King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life is part of “The Pomegranate” body of work explores the art and the prosperity symbolisms of the pomegranate in many cultures through the ages. The body of work in this collection takes you on the journey of the pomegranate as the symbol of hope and prosperity since the prehistoric Sumerian time.

King Tut ~ The Promise of the After Life, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm

Exhibited at the Austro American Institute of Education in Vienna.

Queen Kubaba ~ the Fertility

Queen Kubaba ~ the Fertility is part of “The Pomegranate” body of work explores the art and the prosperity symbolisms of the pomegranate in many cultures through the ages. The body of work in this collection takes you on the journey of the pomegranate as the symbol of hope and prosperity since the prehistoric Sumerian time.

Queen Kubaba ~ the Fertility, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm

Exhibited at the Austro American Institute of Education in Vienna.

Pomegranate ~ The Prosperity

The Pomegranate ~ the Prosperity, is part of the “The Pomegranate” body of work which explores the art and the prosperity symbolisms of the pomegranate in many cultures through the ages. The body of work in this collection takes you on the journey of the pomegranate as the symbol of hope and prosperity since the prehistoric Sumerian time.

The Pomegranate ~ the Prosperity, 2020, watercolour, 15 x 30 cm

Exhibited at the Austro American Institute of Education in Vienna.

Pomegranate ~ prosperity through the ages

“The Pomegranate” body of work explores the art and the prosperity symbolisms of the pomegranate in many cultures through the ages. The body of work in this collection takes you on the journey of the pomegranate as the symbol of hope and prosperity since the prehistoric Sumerian time.

The Pomegranate ~ the Prosperity, 2020, watercolour, 15 x 30 cm
King Tut ~ the Promise of the After Life, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm
Hera ~ the Immortality, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm
Queen Kubaba ~ the Fertility, 2020, watercolour, 101 x 152 cm

Exhibited at the Austro American Institute of Education in Vienna.

A New Dawn for Palu

25 x 25 cm
watercolour

A New Dawn for Palu features a golden sunrise shining through as the giant tsunami waves fade away from Palu’s famous Talise Beach. This symbolises a new beginning and new hope as Palu begins it’s recovery after the recent tsunami. Despite badly damaged the floating mosque Arqam Baburahman, one of its famous landmark survived the tsunami. A symbol of survival, strength and resilient.

Southern Whale Dance

Watercolour - 2014

96.5 x 137 cm
*stretched watercolour paper on stretcher bar, intended to be hung unframed and without glass (like canvas).

Painted to celebrate the victory in the International Court of Justice against Japanese whaling in Australia’s Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, Southern Whale Dance captures a scene in which the whales are frolicking around Sea Shepherd‘s Steve Irwin in the foreground while Japanese Nisshin Maru ‘RESEARCH’ is battling the waves in the background.

Hokusai’s well-known Kanagawa-Oki Nami-Ura of 18th Century Edo, a classical Japanese woodblock print, is adapted to provide an identifiable Japanese setting in this celebratory dance and to remind the Japanese of this International Court of Justice ruling against whaling in the Southern Ocean.

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Saltbush

*Watercolour on stretcher bars - 2014

168 x 71 cm
*stretched watercolour paper on stretcher bars, intended to be hung unframed and without glass (like canvas).

Illustrating a twig of saltbush dissolving into gold dust in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. While the bold colourful waves forming both islands represent Tasmania’s colourful nature, fine lines reflect the Aboriginal way of life in harmony with nature since the beginning of time.

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Maison de Verre

Watercolour - 1990

60 x 64 cm

The Maison de Verre (French for House of Glass) designed by Pierre Chareau was built from 1928 to 1932 in Paris, France. Constructed in the early modern style of architecture, the house’s design emphasized three primary traits: honesty of materials, variable transparency of forms, and juxtaposition of “industrial” materials and fixtures with a more traditional style of home décor. The primary materials used were steel, glass, and glass block. Some of the notable “industrial” elements included rubberized floor tiles, bare steel beams, perforated metal sheet, heavy industrial light fixtures, and mechanical fixtures.

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Ceramic
Wave Mug No 2

Ceramic Sgrafitto - 2014

9 x 8 cm diameter

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Colour Study

Ceramic Plate - 2014

25cm diameter

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Digital Art
A Tribute to Tom Critchley

Digital Arts - 2011

150 x 150 cm

Tom Critchley, hero to Indonesia’s independence, Thomas Kingston “Tom” Critchley AO CBE (27 January 1916 – 14 July 2009) was an Australian public servant, diplomat, author and journalist.

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Stories from Our Kampoeng – A Tribute to Tom Critchley

Photographic Exhibition - 2011

Alun-alun, Jakarta, Indonesia.

A photographic exhibition held as a tribute to Tom Critchley, hero to Indonesia’s independence, Thomas Kingston “Tom” Critchley AO CBE (27 January 1916 – 14 July 2009) was an Australian public servant, diplomat, author and journalist.

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Under the Canopy – Camp Florentine

Digital Arts - 2008

150 x 150 cm

“Welcome to Camp Florentine”, amidst the tension and struggle of tree sittings in Camp Florentine, under the canopy of the ancient gum trees of the Upper Florentine, Tasmania. Camp Florentine has long gone, yet the struggle to save this World Heritage listed forest goes on.

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Design


Website
Peter Scott Gill

Author & Researcher Website - 2017

Website of Peter Scott Gill, Author and Researcher.

Concept Development and Editing: Jessica Perini
Photography: Michael Perini

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Saul Eslake – Economist

Economist Website - 2014

The Official Website of Saul Eslake. Independent economist, speaker, company director and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania. Archive of Saul Eslake’s speeches, articles, reports, media interviews and presentations on a wide range of topics.

This website was selected for preservation by the National Library of Australia, since November 2016.

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AIMIA Awards – Weaving the Web

Industry Association Awards Website, Marketing and Public Relations Campaign - 2000

Website of Australia Interactive Media Industry Association Awards, 2000. Designed and produced as part of the 2000 AIMIA Awards public relations and marketing campaign materials which include website, newspaper ad, entry form, invitation etc.

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Logo
Praxis Partners

Management Consulting Company Logo - 2000


Graphic Design

Photographic Journal
Heavenly Himmelreich

Tulip field in Himmelreich, a hamlet in the Höllental.

Geneva International Playground

Geneva is a delightful international playground with all its captivating charms from crystal clear water, generous open space, gastronomy delights, St. Pierre Cathedral, Reformation Wall to Palais des Nations.

Unexpected Out of Season Snow

Solitude ~ the state of being alone without being lonely

Solitude ~ the state of being alone without being lonely.

Mesmerizing Colours of Autumn

Colours of Autumn in the Black Forest

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Dom Sankt Blasien

“For many are invited but not all are chosen.”
Matthew 22:14

Built in 1783 St Blasien Cathedral’s dome, spanning 36m, is one of the largest in Europe. On impulse I attended the Sunday mass on 15 October 2017. To my delight, the priest was celebrating his 50th year of service. A very special mass, I was very blessed to be there.

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Berlin ~ The Cultural Melting Pot

Multicultural, freedom and creativity, Berlin has it all!

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Hirschsprung ~ The Leap of Faith

A Black Forest legend, perched 800 m above the narrowest point of the Höllental, Hirschsprung represents the legendary leap of faith of a hunted dear which driven by fear of death, jumped the gorge from the hunter to safety. Discovered in adversity, Hirschprung gives faith to carry on.

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A Place Called Home

HochSchwarzwald

A place called home was found high in the Black Forest in September 2016. A perfect place for solitude, to absorb the tranquility of nature and grandeur of the Universe, alone but not lonely.

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Ireland ~ The Stillness of the Land

In the summer of 2016, Ireland greeted me with a profound sense of stillness, soothing grief and adversity that I left behind.

Cherry Blossoms in Bodegraven

Cherry Blossoms in Bodegraven, Spring 2016

See more

Potpourri

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. A good artist lets their intuition take them wherever it wants to.” Lao Tzu

As an artist and a designer, my artwork is influenced by my architectural education and the great lecturers I had during my formative years. Late Professor Jennifer Taylor introduced me to the Modern Movement and gave me the understanding and passion for minimalist concepts, especially Mies Van Der Rohe's "Less is More" and "God is in the Details". Professor Adrian Snodgrass nurtured my keen interest in symbolism in art and design with his wealth of knowledge in Asian, Islamic and primitive arts and architecture. Professor Tone Wheeler gave me the joy of design, the awareness and sensitivity for sustainability and environmental issues. All three of them, particularly Professor Wheeler, ignited the wanderlust seeds planted by my adventurous father.

Upon graduating, my first mission was to travel the world to broaden my artistic horizons. With that in mind, I landed a job in the airline industry. With exposure to people from all walks of life around the world, I developed an interest in social and cultural diversity. During this time I completed my postgraduate studies. Following an injury to my right hand, I embarked on a spiritual journey that expanded my intuition and the opportunities for more meaningful travel: both worldly and spiritually.

When you commission an artwork, a design or illustration from me, each will be intuitively crafted from a wide range of life journeys and travel experiences, especially for you.

Wanderlust


Creative Being


Spiritual Journey


Currently based in Germany, I am fulfilling my wanderlust as a digital nomad. There is nothing more valuable than experiencing a place with a local. Most of the time, I am blessed with the opportunity to visit local friends. Each journey is a unique enrichment for my mind, body and spirit. Follow my most recent journeys here.


Wanderlust

We are created in the image of the CREATOR – our creativity is our TRUE essence. When we nurture our creativity, we are embracing our true nature and meeting our fullest potential. I am delighted to share some of my creative projects on this website. Each piece is an expression of my creative self.

Portfolio

As an emerging artist, I suffered a spontaneous lung collapse in 1988. A work injury to my right hand in 1996 left me with compromised fine motor skills, constant pain, numbness, and pins and needles. With years of personal development as a spiritual healing teacher, I experienced some improvement in my fine motor skills and my injuries began to heal.

Spiritual Journey

Wanderlust

Currently based in Germany, I am fulfilling my wanderlust as a digital nomad. There is nothing more valuable than experiencing a place with a local. Most of the time, I am blessed with the opportunity to visit local friends. Each journey is a unique enrichment for my mind, body and spirit. Follow my most recent journeys here.


Wanderlust

Creative Being

We are created in the image of the CREATOR - our creativity is our TRUE essence. When we nurture our creativity, we are embracing our true nature and fulfilling our fullest potential. I am delighted to share some of my creative projects on this website. Each piece of work in my portfolio is an expression of my creative self.

Portfolio

Spiritual Journey

As an emerging artist, I suffered a spontaneous lung collapse in 1988. A work injury to my right hand in 1996 left me with compromised fine motor skills, constant pain, numbness, and pins and needles. With years of personal development as a spiritual healing teacher, I experience some improvement in my fine motor skills.

Spiritual Journey

Contact Me


Ratih Luhur

BSc (Arch), MMDes (Hons)

Do you need a website?
Artwork or illustration?
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Please feel free to send me a message.

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