An exploration of Nusantara art and culture through a 1:1 scale recycled cardboard ship installation.
In the middle of the sleek, light-flooded glass atrium of Pacific Place Mall stands an object of striking contrast in both scale and texture: a Pinisi ship measuring 12 × 6 meters. Yet, instead of the ironwood traditionally harvested from coastal Sulawesi, the entire vessel—from its sturdy hull right up to its towering sails—is crafted from over 1,000 sheets of 100% recycled fiber cardboard.
This full-scale vessel is the centerpiece of Pinisi Nusantara, a collaborative exhibition by paper-craft design studio Dus Duk Duk and visual artist Erika Richardo. Running from August 14 to September 4, 2026, to commemorate Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, the project seamlessly fuses advanced paper-craft engineering with contemporary visual narrative.
Cardboard Structures and Visual Narratives
From an architectural perspective, Dus Duk Duk’s treatment of recycled corrugated board pushes the boundaries of load-bearing limits and spatial form. The modular joints and meticulously calculated fold precision along the hull and masts prove that a humble, utilitarian material destined for the recycling bin can anchor a precise, macro-scale structure.
"Pinisi Nusantara serves as proof that simple materials like cardboard hold extraordinary potential when brought together with creativity and collaboration," explains Arif Susanto, Founder and CEO of Dus Duk Duk.
On the artistic side, Erika Richardo approached the textured surface of the ship’s hull as a massive, continuous canvas, executing a sweeping painting that charts Indonesia’s cultural geography from east to west.
"We chose this Pinisi to showcase a painting that can actually be read like a map of Indonesia," Erika clarifies.
The visual brushstrokes across the hull unfold chronologically, beginning with representations of Papua’s untouched landscapes on the right starboard side and wrapping all the way to the rich cultural traditions of Sumatra on the left port side.
Cultural Scale and Public Engagement
This project marks the second collaboration between Dus Duk Duk and Erika. After successfully assembling a 1:10 scale replica of an Airbus A320 using the same material back in 2025, taking the leap to a 1:1 scale for a traditional maritime icon demanded far more complex technical calculations.
The official inauguration of the installation was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar, and Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Ni Made Ayu Marthini.
Crucially, the exhibition avoids keeping the public at arm's length. Visitors are invited to engage directly through Live Painting sessions and family workshops building miniature cardboard ships. Moreover, the project extends its commitment to sustainability far beyond the mall atrium, planting 525 mangrove saplings on Pari Island in the Thousand Islands chain through the #HarmoniBagiBumi campaign.
