All images © the artist, shared with permission Muhammad Fatchurofi’s Contrasting Illustrations Ripple Between Boldness and Delicacy May 10, 2025 Illustration Jackie Andres While Muhammad Fatchurofi’s compositions instill a sense of energy through his use of bold color palettes and frenetic, coarse textures, his subjects often evoke serene body language, harmony, and a quiet stillness. This complementary nature potently emerges from Fatchurofi’s practice in not only a formal sense—with the habitual pairing of contrasting colors—but also an expressive sense, as his familiar motifs elicit an air of mindfulness. As a result, a strong sense of balance continues to evolve in the Semarang, Indonesia-based artist’s newer works. Lately, Fatchurofi has been venturing into the world of acrylic and canvas, translating his skills in digital illustration into a more tactile practice. “It’s been a fun activity for me working with hands and (a) traditional medium,” the artist explains. He has also shared that he’s been inspired to take a step toward painting thanks to process videos shared by Taiwanese-American artist James Jean on Instagram. After accomplishing his first solo exhibition last year, the artist is currently working on more paintings in the hopes of discovering new artistic directions and more exhibitions. Find more work on his website and store, and follow along on Instagram for updates. Next article