A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea: Highlighting Discrimination Through Illustrations
In collaboration with the British Council, Pustaka Pias has released an illustrated book titled A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea, shedding light on the experiences of discrimination and colonialism as depicted by illustrators from both the UK and Indonesia. This book results from a cultural exchange program initiated by the British Council, known as Connection Through Culture. To bring this project to life, Pustaka Pias partnered with the UK-based visual collective, Small Fry Collective. Delpi Suhariyanto and Titis Embun Ayu, the project managers of A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea, shared with Grafis Masa Kini, “For us, this book serves as a networking platform with fellow visual enthusiasts from the UK and Indonesia. However, we believe that visual connections are not just about colors and lines, but also about the backgrounds of each artist.”
A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea originated from discussions within Pustaka Pias about fostering intersectional solidarity between creative practitioners in the UK and Indonesia. Collaboration and contribution from creatives are essential in raising social awareness, promoting tolerance, and encouraging inclusivity—recognizing that creatives can play a pivotal role as agents of change. "All of this stems from reflecting on the forms of social inequality and injustice experienced in daily life, rooted in discrimination and colonialism," Delpi and Titis explained. Furthermore, Pustaka Pias developed this illustrated book project in collaboration with Small Fry Collective, a UK-based collective founded by Maisy Summer, an illustrator and animator. With this concept, Pustaka Pias and Small Fry Collective were entrusted as one of the recipients of the 2021 Connections Through Culture grant from the British Council.
Discussing identity and the suffering caused by it is neither easy nor comfortable—often, it’s traumatic. Therefore, in the process of creating this illustrated book, Pustaka Pias and Small Fry Collective anticipated the discomfort that accompanies fulfillment. These feelings can offer learning opportunities for every individual involved. “Of course, it’s nearly impossible to present this issue in its entirety, but since the primary inspiration for exploring the issues depicted in this book comes from everyday life, we believe these experiences are crucial to present as material for reflection,” Delpi and Titis remarked.
A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea features works by two UK illustrators, Danielle Rhoda and Wendy Wong, brought in by Small Fry Collective. The book also showcases works by three Indonesian illustrators: Maharani Mancanegara, Bonnibel Rambatan, and Papuan Movements. These five illustrators share unsettling experiences related to identity that they have encountered in their respective locations. “The background of each illustrator is certainly a significant factor closely linked to topics such as immigrants, the Indonesian mass killings of 65/66 , white supremacy, LGBTQIA+ issues, and the conflict in Papua,” Delpi and Titis explained. As the project progressed from 2022 to 2024, ten additional Indonesian illustrators have joined the initiative, including Elan Merdeka, Brethania Brigitta, Chepy, Erica Sutandi, Inggita Kanya, Jody Muhammad, Nurulaila, Silmi Sabila, Singgih, and Tasia Sugiyanto.
In selecting the Indonesian illustrators involved, Pustaka Pias considered the strength of their narratives, visual style, and artistic concepts, as well as their interest in exploring topics of discrimination and colonialism. According to Titis and Delpi, these qualifications are essential because Pustaka Pias views artists, designers, and illustrators as the voices of their respective communities. “Additionally, we also considered their commitment to attending several online meetings (due to Covid-19), conducting research, and working remotely.” For Pustaka Pias, the role of each contributor is crucial, as the works and narratives they share can inspire readers to imagine a better future—and actively participate in making it a reality.
The issues of discrimination and colonialism raised by illustrators from diverse backgrounds in this book serve as an invitation for readers to reflect on and articulate these issues and their impact within their capacities. With self-awareness, we as a society can continue to educate ourselves, seek knowledge, and embrace those around us. Through this book, Pustaka Pias and Small Fry Collective also strive to create a meaningful and inclusive space, open to diverse backgrounds, where each individual is unique and can contribute valuable insights and ideas. “By combining all our experiences, knowledge, and expertise, we can do the best work possible, such as creating collaborative projects and publications that deeply engage with the values of tolerance, inclusivity, and safeguarding,” concluded Titis and Delpi.
A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea was titled by Kelana Wisnu from Pustaka Pias, inspired by the history of sugar, which is believed to be the origin of the relationship between the UK and Indonesia. The cover of this illustrated book was designed by Sidney Islam. A Spoonful of Sugar in Your Cup of Tea is now available to the public at Grammars, Bandung.
Cover illustration by Maisy Summer
