We had the good fortune of connecting with Bunga Vidanska and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bunga, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be about softness — the kind that heals, not hides. I hope people remember me as someone who chose peace, who created beauty with intention, and who lived in alignment with her soul, even when it wasn’t the easy path.

Through Bunga Karsa, I’ve always tried to show that art can be more than decoration — it can be ritual, remembrance, and resistance. That flowers can speak. That ancestral wisdom has a place in the present. And that healing doesn’t have to be loud to be real.

I want people to remember that it’s okay to bloom slowly. That survival is also success. That doing something with care, even if it’s small, is powerful.

If anything, I hope I leave behind more tenderness — in how we treat ourselves, in how we connect with nature, and in how we honor the unseen things that give our lives meaning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art lives at the intersection of nature, spirituality, and storytelling. Everything I create is rooted in intention — whether it’s a piece of wearable flower art, an embroidered jacket, a hand-painted keepsake, or a guided meditation ritual. What sets my work apart is that it isn’t just decorative — it’s emotional, ancestral, and restorative.

My brand, Bunga Karsa, literally means “flower of intention” — and that’s exactly what I try to offer the world. I use real flowers, preserved and embedded into resin or paint, to create one-of-a-kind pieces that feel alive with meaning. Some carry memories. Others are created for healing. Many are commissioned with specific intentions in mind — for protection, celebration, grief, or transformation.

I also lead Javanese flower meditations, an offering that brings together Indonesia’s ancestral wisdom with modern spiritual practices. This work allows me to hold space for others — especially those who are looking to reconnect with themselves in gentle, creative ways.

Getting here wasn’t easy. I come from a culture that often sees art as a hobby — not a career. I had to break through that belief and learn how to trust that I could build something real from what I love. There were moments of doubt, financial stress, and identity crisis — especially trying to balance the academic world (I have a Master’s in Public Diplomacy) with a creative soul calling that felt completely different.

But I’ve learned that your path doesn’t have to make sense to others, as long as it feels true to you. I’ve learned that slowness is not failure, that softness is not weakness, and that there is power in choosing peace.

What I want the world to know is this:
My art is not just something to look at — it’s something to feel.
It’s an invitation to slow down. To reconnect. To remember beauty.
It’s a love letter to the spirit of flowers, and to the parts of us that bloom quietly, but bravely.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit me in L.A., here’s how I’d show them the most Bunga-style week ever:

We’d start by thrifting at Remainders in Altadena — a hidden gem for arts and craft supplies, full of treasures for creatives. Then we’d recharge our souls at Descanso Gardens and The Huntington, surrounded by blooming flowers and quiet inspiration.

Next stop: books and birds. We’d explore Lost Books — a dreamy, green-filled bookstore with a mini indoor garden and actual birds fluttering around. After that, we’d visit Skylight Books, where trees grow inside the store, and of course, The Last Bookstore downtown for iconic photo spots and literary wonder.

One morning, we’d rise early and visit the LA Flower Market — one of my happy places — and later catch the sunset at Barnsdall Art Park, under the very tree where I usually play sound baths during golden hour. It’s peaceful, grounding, and beautiful.

We’d grab coffee at HEXI Los Angeles, a spot with cozy Indonesian vibes, and ride the train to Culver City for dinner at Simpang Asia, or drive out to Medan Kitchen in Alhambra for a bold, authentic Indonesian food experience.

Another day, we’d rent metro bikes and take the Ballona Creek bike path to Playa del Rey — a scenic ride with coastal charm. Then head to Venice, where I’d guide a meditation session at Lotus Moon inside a Lavender and Truffles Ice Cream shop, followed by an evening walk to the Santa Monica Pier.

And before the trip ends? I’d take you to Thunderbolt Spiritual Books, one of my favorite secret spots — a tiny store with one of the largest and most magical tarot deck collections I’ve ever seen.

✨That’s what a week with me would look like: creativity, healing, flowers, bookstores, ocean air, and spiritual stops tucked between all the quiet magic.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have helped me on this journey, but if I had to give a special shoutout, it would be to Nitya Grantz — a painter and artist who works primarily with embroidery and denim. She’s not just a friend or mentor to me — I already consider her like family, like an aunt.

It’s not just her talent that inspires me, but her authenticity. Just by being fully herself, she gave me permission to be myself too. As someone who grew up in a typical Asian family, I was surrounded by the belief that being an artist isn’t a “real job,” that it’s unstable, impractical, or powerless. That mindset shaped a lot of internal conflict in me.

But then Nitya walked into my life and quietly shattered that narrative. She showed me that it’s possible — that you can live a life fully dedicated to your passion, as an artist, and still thrive — without compromising your values, or selling your soul.

She taught me how to be brave. To listen to my sacred callings. To take my creativity seriously. And to walk this path of art and healing, even when others may not understand or agree with it.

Because of her, I realized: I don’t have to shrink my dreams to fit the world — I can build a world where my dreams belong.

Website: https://bungakars.com

Instagram: @bungavidanska @bunga.karsa

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bunga-vidanska/

Other: Tiktok: @bungakarsa

Image Credits
All credits to Bunga Vidanska

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.