Journal
#ICF | Varsam Kurnia
FEBRUARY 3-6, 2026
Insightful Creative Forum (ICF) is an internal discussion platform initiated by the VERSHOME team to foster the exchange of insights, perspectives, creative trends, and inspiration. Held every two months, each session features three speakers from within the studio who share their expertise based on their individual creative interests and professional backgrounds.
In addition to these internal sessions, ICF invites a guest speaker every four months, from designers to professionals across various creative industries to share their experiences and perspectives. Through this initiative, VERSHOME aims to cultivate a culture of continuous learning, encouraging the team to remain curious, critical, and relevant in an ever-evolving creative landscape.
For this Guest Star session, ICF welcomed Varsam Kurnia, an illustrator and artist whose work has led to collaborations with numerous renowned local and international brands. One of the highlights of the session was his collaboration with ASHTA District 8, where his illustrations were transformed into a large-scale mall installation.
Titled Noel Lumière, the installation revolves around the theme The Stars, creating a starry and immersive experience inspired by early 2000s window displays, anime, and celestial maps—visual elements that have become signatures of Varsam's artistic style.
During the session, Varsam shared the creative journey behind transforming a two-dimensional illustration into a fully immersive three-dimensional installation. He walked the audience through the process, beginning with three initial concept sketches that were later refined in collaboration with the contractor before one final concept was selected for execution.
Beyond the creative process itself, Varsam also spoke about one of the project's greatest challenges: balancing creative ambition with technical constraints. From selecting suitable materials to ensuring structural integrity and visitor safety, every design decision required careful consideration while staying true to the original artistic vision.
Image source: @varsamkurnia on Instagram
Image source: @varsamkurnia on Instagram
As a personal touch, Varsam incorporated several easter eggs into the final installation. Among them were subtle appearances of Starguide, a recurring character found throughout his body of work. Visitors could discover the character hidden across various elements of the installation, including the windows and the series of lamps lining the display, adding an interactive layer to the overall experience.
Through this session, the VERSHOME team gained valuable insights into how a creative vision evolves from a two-dimensional illustration into a large-scale spatial experience. More importantly, Varsam's story highlighted that bringing an ambitious concept to life is not only about creative ideas, but also about collaboration, adaptability, and the ability to navigate technical limitations while preserving the integrity of the original vision.