ADIR 2026–2027 Links Bali and Burgundy in Forest-Themed Design Residency

Denpasar — CushCush Gallery’s Artist Designer In Residence (ADIR) programme is pairing Indonesian designer Cokorda G. B. Suryanata and French designer Clara Rivière in a two-part residency spanning Bali and Burgundy from August 2026 to August 2027, with a focus on forest ecosystems, materials and sustainable design practices.

The residency is organised by CushCush Gallery in partnership with Arcade – Design à la campagne®, the French Embassy in Indonesia and the Institut Français d’Indonésie, according to programme information published by the French Ministry of Culture and CushCush Gallery.

The Bali phase runs from 16 August to 20 September 2026, followed by a second residency in Burgundy from 1 to 28 August 2027. The organisers describe the edition as bringing together, for the first time, one Indonesian and one French designer for a shared research and creation process rooted in both territories.

Two designers, two territories

Cokorda G. B. Suryanata, known as Tjok, is a Bali-based industrial designer and founder of Studio Banda. CushCush Gallery and Indonesia Design report that his practice treats existing manufacturing and craft processes as underused resources, approaching craft as a living body of knowledge that can be expanded through experimental techniques.

Indonesia Design notes that Suryanata studied at Institut Teknologi Bandung and that his work has been shaped by formative experiences in Tokyo. His projects span furniture, lighting, objects and electronics, with a focus on material behaviour and everyday gestures rather than prescribed “Bali” aesthetics.

Representing France is Clara Rivière, a designer from southwestern France whose work is closely informed by the natural environments around her. Indonesia Design and CushCush describe her studio practice as creating objects that support contemporary rituals and foster greater respect for living systems, weaving economic, human and cultural relations rooted in place.

The residency situates these two practices within a common brief that emphasises materials, territory and ecological responsibility, framing cultural exchange as a process of shared research and making rather than only exhibition display.

Forest as theme and design brief

The 2026–2027 edition of ADIR takes the forest as its central theme. Official programme notes from the French Ministry of Culture describe the residency as an immersion in Bali’s cultural and craft environments, followed by a comparative exploration of Burgundy’s landscapes and know-how.

According to Life as Art Asia, the Bali segment engages Rivière and Suryanata in discovering distinctive natural materials and learning traditional craft techniques over five weeks. The theme is framed not only as an environmental concern but as a design brief, inviting investigation into material cycles, production systems and possible interventions that can operate beyond single objects or local markets.

Roadshow and design events

During the Bali phase, the designers are also scheduled to share their process with broader creative communities.

Life as Art Asia reports that the residency includes a one-week roadshow to Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta, where the pair present their research and development work to local professionals and creative networks.

The same report notes that Rivière and Suryanata participate in Jia CURATED, a craft, design and culture event held at Pengembak Beach in Sanur from 13 to 17 August 2026. Jia CURATED’s organisers describe the event as a five-day celebration of craft, design and culture featuring exhibitions, installations, talks and immersive experiences.

Life as Art Asia further states that the designers are taking part in Indonesia Design Week in Jakarta from 18 to 27 September 2026, positioning the residency within a wider national design calendar.

Planned showcases in France

According to Life as Art Asia, the designers’ journey is expected to culminate in public presentations in France in 2027. Their collections created within ADIR are scheduled to premiere at Paris Design Week, while their joint experimental exploration in Burgundy is due to be exhibited at Arcade – Design à la campagne® as part of France Design Week.

These planned showcases will extend the Bali-based research into an international context, testing how ideas shaped by forest landscapes and craft traditions in Indonesia and France can be translated into new design outcomes for wider audiences.

Sources

• Programme ADIR (Artist Designer in Residence) 2026-2027 – French Ministry of Culture (DRAC Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)
• ADIR Builds a Creative Bridge Between Bali and Burgundy – Indonesia Design
• Cross-Cultural Innovation is the Hallmark: Artist Designer In Residency – Life as Art Asia
• Plan Your Visit — Jia CURATED 2026
• jia curated 2026 displays craft, design, and culture on bali's beachfront – designboom
• NOW! Bali