Dali Susanto’s signature style is instantly recognisable and ubiquitous. Popping up on windows, pavements and streetscapes, on clothing, on people at parties, on cars and on anything that stays still long enough to be painted, Dali is a man on a mission, spreading his brand of quirky joy across the Bay and beyond. From creating on the fly in whatever space he could squeeze into, Dali found a place to work and play at Spaceship Studios.
Located in the heart of Hastings’ thriving cultural quarter, Dali shares space with a movable feast of creatives who contribute to the vibrant community with which he surrounds himself. Collaborative works from artists past and present adorn the walls in eye popping street style, matching the zesty vivacity with which Dali dresses, paints and lives.
The vintage dresser behind his desk is lined with rows of ordinary test pots, Dali’s preferred medium for canvasses and clothing alike. “I use test pots for everything – l lay it on real thick,” he gestures to the jumble of diverse works in progress piled high on the shelves. His palette is the household colour card, bold hues suiting his block style.
He begins with abstract shapes, tonal shades laid adjacent. His composition and colour choice are instinctive, mirrored in his razor sharp eye for a striking op shop find. “I usually don’t plan it. I don’t know what will turn up. I just let it flow,” he says with a characteristic mischievous grin.
Once dry, he fills in form, overlaying in black with a bold hand. Stark contrast and decisive lines are the bones of his style. His subject matter is slightly bizarre and sometimes obtuse, but comes from his heart and the relationships he makes wherever he goes. “It’s kind of like writing a poem but I put it into a canvas. Probably only I know how to read it but hopefully someone will get what I’m trying to say behind my paintings,” he muses.
Dali is a people person, friendly with everyone. The urban studio suits his vibe perfectly, the regular footfall feeding his insatiable desire for sociability. “Every day I talk to people, and learn the stories behind them,” as he explains his inspiration for the messages that make their way into his work. He uses text particularly in public pieces, sending a beacon of positivity into the world, drawing people in.
Like the man, his work is dynamic, feeding into the community. Body painting has brought him to festivals around the country, turning ordinary people into extraordinary works of art. His annual birthday celebration, Dali Day, celebrates the essence of the artist. When Covid prevented him visiting his Indonesian home, his many friends came together to cheer him up. What began as a hedonistic dress up party has evolved into a themed group exhibition. Last year people painted saws, this year op shops will be scoured for objects to upcycle. In keeping with the Dali ethos, anyone with the impetus to contribute is welcome. In Dali’s world, life is a great big joyful party and everyone is invited.