Inspired by samurai shields, Mella Jaarsma makes an amulet-like concoction of new and used chains and necklaces, which could double as fashion jewellery. Her works touch on issues such as ethnicity, belief systems and gender. Hailing from Holland where she was born in Emmeloord and trained at the Minerva Academy in Groningen (1978-1984), Mella decides to base herself in Yogyakarta after continuing her studies at the IKH Art Institute in Jakarta (1984) and the Indonesian Instituteof the Arts in Yogyakarta (1985-86). With her partner Nindityo Adipurnomo, she founded the Cemeti Gallery in Yogyakarta. She has taken part in the 3rd Asia-Pacific Triennial in Brisbane, Australia, in 1999; the Gwangju Biennale in 2002, the Yokohama Triennial and the 20th Sydney Biennale.