Saying Yes to Kreativiti Otrobanda

When Kreativiti Otrobanda first reached out to me, I’ll be honest: I felt nervous.

It was the first time I was being invited to take part in something like this. A creative festival. A public setting. A space shared with other artists. Up until that point, my workshops had felt intimate, familiar, safe. This felt completely different.

But I reminded myself of something important: calligraphy is an applied art. It’s not something reserved for a few. It’s something anyone can learn, no matter their age or background. And with that thought, I decided to take the challenge.

Through this process, I came in contact with Solivianne, and from the very first interaction, I felt at ease. She was open, kind, and genuinely invested in the creative vision behind the festival. That alone made me think, "This feels right."

We later had a meeting with everyone involved in the festival: artists working across different disciplines, people in applied art, creative thinkers. Being in that room was incredibly inspiring. I met individuals whose work excited me, whose perspectives challenged me, and, unexpectedly, I even made a few friends. It felt like we were already starting on the right foot.

Of course, there were challenges along the way.

Calligraphy isn’t an art you can rush. It’s technical. It requires patience, repetition, and time. My usual workshops last about three hours. So when the question became “How do you teach calligraphy in just one hour?”, I had to pause and rethink everything.

Together with Solivianne, we brainstormed and explored different options. We eventually landed on a solution that felt both realistic and respectful to the art: instead of brush calligraphy, we would focus on cursive writing with a fountain pen. It’s more accessible, more familiar for most people, and allows participants to actually experience progress within a shorter timeframe.

And honestly? It worked better than I could have imagined.

The workshop was full. Completely full. I wasn’t expecting that many people to show up, and seeing every seat taken filled me with excitement and a little disbelief. We had to look for more chairs to get everyone in the space. The energy in the room was warm and focused. People were engaged, curious, and genuinely enjoying the process.

The feedback afterward was incredibly kind. Some participants even went on to join me in later workshops, which meant a lot to me. That, to me, is always the biggest compliment.

I’m deeply grateful to Kreativiti Otrobanda for reaching out and trusting me with this opportunity. It was an experience that pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best possible way. One that reminded me that saying yes, even when you’re nervous, can open doors you didn’t even know were there.

And I would do it again. Without hesitation.

— Lala Valentina