Creative Spotlight: Valensia Harumi Edgina Takes A Hearty Step Towards Gastronomy & Creativity
Valensia Harumi Edgina is known for a lot of things — an artist, author, and photographer — but what she holds closest to her heart is the world of gastronomy and its rich culture. A true food lover, she enjoys dining out and the joy of meeting new people along the way. In this Creative Spotlight, Valensia Harumi Edgina spoke to EnVi about her creative mediums, masterful blend of visual storytelling, and food culture.
A Glimpse Into the Life of Valensia Harumi Edgina
Edgina is an Indonesian artist, author, director, photographer, and DJ. Originally from Jakarta, she now calls Bali home. Her primary artistic medium is photography — both still and motion pictures. In addition to her creative pursuits, she works as a creative consultant, a role where her background in law adds a unique, structured approach to her work.
“I love to eat and meet new people, nice to meet you!” she shared during the online interview via email.
Edgina is passionate about creating visual stories that resonate with people, characterized by a warm and inviting style. She also takes great joy in fostering collaborations that build connections between creatives and audiences. And of course, she’s deeply inspired by the rich food and culture of her surroundings.
Through the Lens of Vrame By Val
As a photographer and director, Edgina showcases her photography through Vrame By Val on Instagram, capturing the warm and intimate essence of everyday moments.“I love to see my pictures like it’s just out of a scene in a film, so it’s a little bit romantic and colorful,” she expressed. Edgina further mentioned that she focuses more on social settings and happenings, people, places, and movements.
Experiences, Taste, and Stories at the Lazy Susan
In 2018, Edgina and four like-minded creative women co-founded Lazy Susan, a platform that merges food, culture, and creativity. Their shared passion and desire to innovate in the food space led them to develop an experience that goes beyond taste alone. With Lazy Susan, they craft experiences, design flavors, and tell stories through a mix of digital and physical publications, events, and engaging activities all centered around food.
The venture was born from a thirst to present fresh concepts that celebrated gastronomy in new ways. Whether through highlighting unique culinary issues, sharing intriguing fun facts, or collaborating with creatives across various artistic mediums, Lazy Susan set out to be more than just a project — it became a community and a voice for food enthusiasts and artists alike.
Edgina on Dining Tables of Indonesia
Edgina’s book, Dining Tables of Indonesia, spans 120 pages and showcases 110 photos captured during six years of travel across the archipelago. Edgina, who had been experienced in photography for several years, found the inspiration and support to bring this project to life through her collaboration with her partner and the book’s designer, Hary ‘Munir’ Septiandri. Realizing it was time to create her own tangible work, she faced the challenge of choosing the perfect title — one that would reflect her core values and beliefs. Dining Tables of Indonesia felt fitting, encapsulating her appreciation for the communal and cultural aspects of sharing meals.
As she compiled the photos and stories for the book, Edgina discovered that her commitment to simplicity was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her parents taught her to find beauty in the ordinary, to notice overlooked moments, and to be grateful for what is present. This ethos of simplicity, woven through the pages, invites readers to pause and appreciate the quiet, often unseen moments that make up everyday life.
Views of Gastronomy and Its Culture
“We eat based on the necessity of survival, but also, when eating food, you can taste a lot of flavors through all your senses,” she stated. With most people sharing meals two to three times a day, these routine moments gradually form habits, and those habits evolve into stories and memories that last a lifetime. To her, the act of sharing food goes beyond sustenance — it’s a social activity that builds connections and contributes to a shared culture.
In her view, the modern approach to food has expanded to include entertainment and leisure, illustrating how culinary traditions adapt and grow. Yet, Edgina holds firm on the belief that at the heart of it all, food remains rooted in its origin — from the land, the sky, and nature itself. It is brought to life through the care and effort of the people who prepare and serve it, reinforcing the deep bond between food, nature, and community.
“Like a whole teamwork between nature and humans from how it’s grown until it’s served. How amazing is that!” Edgina exclaimed.
An Homage to Indonesian Food
Edgina, who shared to us that her recent favorite food is the simple and hearty scrambled tofu, expressed, “I think it’s only natural to work on something you love. I love food, I love eating it, I love sitting down and dining out, I love to know about the process, the people making it, the industry. I hope people can feel love when they see my work. That leads to appreciating people and nature more. And if that same feeling connects culture and people, so be it, I think that is a bonus”.
Edgina’s latest creation, a risograph-printed 2025 calendar, draws inspiration from a photograph of a “kaleng kerupuk” (cracker cans) taken during her travels in Yogyakarta. Designed and printed in Japan, the calendar features the word “rahayu,” which is a prominent name that decorates cracker cans in Indonesia. The risograph-printed calendar symbolizes a wish for blessings to fill the homes and businesses where it finds a place.
When asked about her hopes for the future of Indonesia’s gastronomy culture, Edgina envisions a growth that is both root-honoring and forward-thinking. She hopes that younger generations will gain a deeper appreciation for the rich culinary history of the country, while older generations share their knowledge and embrace modern innovations. To her, the ideal is a community that honors the past and welcomes the future, blending tradition with new ideas to create an open and dynamic food culture.
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