In her work, Mella Jaarsma reflects on her daily surroundings, exploring the layers of society and the ways in which we relate to the world and each other. Through costumes, installations, and performances, she delves into her own dual cultural background and offers a critical perspective on culture, identity, ideology, and power. By collaborating with diverse communities, primarily in Indonesia but also elsewhere, she brings a focus on forms of cultural and racial diversity embedded within clothing, intertwining different views and histories. Jaarsma studied visual art in the Netherlands before moving to Indonesia in the 1980s, where she has lived and worked ever since.