The Ukiran collection marks a significant development in Tantri Mustika's practice, emerging from her contribution to the 2023 group show "Everybody's heard of a dragon." This collection represents her first substantive engagement with her Balinese heritage through ceramics, exploring the intersection of cultural identity and artistic expression. 

"I wanted to take this opportunity to lean into exploring my cultural identity and figure out how my Balinese heritage informs my creative expression," Mustika explains. The collection draws inspiration from Balinese art traditions, particularly the rich history of carving, which she discovered aligned naturally with her practice. 

"I realised through trying my hand at something so different that I could actually carve clay really well, which made sense as carving is so synonymous with Balinese arts and crafts."

The work integrates recurring motifs from Balinese art and batik designs, featuring mystical floral imagery, folkloric characters, and repetitive patterns. Mustika's technical approach combines traditional carving techniques with her established material vocabulary, particularly in pieces that incorporate her signature marbled clay work. 

A central piece in this developing collection is the Rangda vase, created for "Everybody's heard of a dragon." This work, along with a series of carved wall hangings, establishes a visual language that connects traditional Balinese motifs with contemporary ceramic forms, demonstrating an evolution in Mustika's practice while maintaining references to her earlier work.

"This work is a reflection of me trying to figure out who I actually am at my core," Mustika reflects. "What are the things I have seen all around me throughout my whole life? What is my purpose as a maker and what are my stories that I want to share?" These questions drive the ongoing development of the collection, as she explores the conscious and subconscious influences of her upbringing. The Ukiran collection, taking its name from the Indonesian word for carving, represents both a technical and personal exploration for Mustika.

"It feels like something deep for the first time ever," she notes. "It's a bit scary but exciting and I really feel this work. It feels important to me even though I don't really know exactly what the message is just yet." Through these pieces, Mustika begins to articulate a more personal artistic voice, marking a turning point in her practice where cultural heritage and contemporary ceramics meet in meaningful dialogue while suggesting new directions for her artistic development.