Hello Abiebi

Design and character culture

Abiebi is the name used by Dedi Setiawan. He studied design and worked as an advertising art director. In his account of starting out, he recalls the cartoon characters of his childhood and collecting Japanese and American toys. An interest in a friend’s custom toy eventually led to making sculptural characters of his own.

A familiar figure in another form

Recognition is often only the beginning in Hello Abiebi’s work. An exaggerated feature, unexpected pose or shifted emphasis asks the viewer to reconsider a first impression. Bright colour and cartoon silhouettes offer an easy point of entry, while the altered figure can feel both funny and unsettling. That tension between familiarity and change operates in a sculpture as well as a paper image.

Paintings, prints and art toys

No. 22 — Size Matters and Sponge Balls show different approaches to well-known characters. A canvas gives colour and pose a distinct presence, while a paper print encourages attention to dense drawing and repeated details. Objects add a physical silhouette. ArtComburo product pages distinguish material, format and verified release information; neighbouring objects in a photograph do not automatically form a set.

Explore No. 22 — Size Matters, Sponge Balls or browse the ArtComburo paintings and prints collection.