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Ahip slang word being thrown around these days by young Jakartans is “galau.” It refers to both a dramatization of feelings of melancholy and a person who is known to possess that attribute. In other words, a drama queen.

The members of the Jakarta-based drawing club GaLaw may or may not possess those attributes, but what is certain is they never waste time sobbing or belting out love songs during their weekly meetings. Their version of GaLaw is a portmanteau of “gambar selaw” (“selaw” being an appropriation of the English word “slow”), so that the name roughly translates to “taking-it-easy drawing,” referring to the club’s non-formal nature.

Founder Tiffany Ayu Puspasari, a student of the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ), considers the humorous moniker to be a reflection of the jovial approach the club takes toward getting together to draw pictures. With her shoulder-length hair, carefree disposition and uber-hip appearance, Tiffany carries the command and aesthetic of a club boss.

“We want this club to be a relaxing one. Friends come over right after work or school, so that the club itself becomes a place to unwind. We listen to music, sing along together and talk about our days. There are no technical requirements or binding rules. Everything just flows as it goes,” she explains, making it clear that the club’s only requirement is the desire to have fun and get along.

“We don’t just hang out in the club. We go to concerts and art exhibits together so much that people recognize us as ‘those GaLaw kids.’ ”

Tiffany’s background as an IKJ student and active member of the art collective Ruang Rupa (RuRu) introduced her to a wide array of artists both inside and outside of the IKJ scene. Four months ago, her network inspired her to establish GaLaw the idea being to create a collective where illustrators would be able to express their artistry together without the pressures or expectations of a formal institution.

Starting with about nine members, GaLaw began meeting every Thursday at the RuRu shop in South Jakarta to draw together. There are now 12 members, a number that Tiffany expects to increase.

Each member comes with different artistic characteristics. Some drawings hold a more whimsical styling, while others are more realistic in their depictions. Some offer strong imagery and colors, with others presenting sketch-like lines in monochrome. Even the mediums and utensils used differ widely, ranging from crayons to coloring pencils, Chinese ink, oil and water paint.

Ricky Malau, a GaLaw member, has a distinctively realistic and colorful style and mostly focuses on portraits. He says that the club is a realization of the instinctive nature of drawing.

“We come in, talk to each other or listen to songs, just hanging out, and the hand just starts moving, reacting to what is happening,” Ricky says in an appropriately slow drawl that seems to perfectly capture the club’s ethos.

The diversity of styles is a welcome one, Tiffany says, and plays into the club’s intention of having every member affect and influence each other’s works.

“We complete each other through a lot of sharing,” she says.

The members of GaLaw have also begun to build a rapport within the city’s art community through the exhibitions that they have held.

Their first exhibition was at D’Spice in Kemang in November, and was well attended. A few days ago, they also took part in the second installment of RuRu’s music and arts festival, “RRRec Fest,” by drawing posters for the shows taking place during the event.

For members like Ricky, GaLaw provides the most ideal setting for artists to chill.

“As artists, the environment lets us absorb our casual surroundings and express that,” he says. “It’s relaxing … slow.”

GaLaw drawing club
Thursday evenings at Ruang Rupa
Jl. Tebet Timur Dalam Raya No. 6, Tebet, South Jakarta
For more information, visit: www.gambarbersama.blogspot.com