Cel (aka Wakan Del Sol) was born in the land of snow-capped peaks and punctuality. Switzerland. But these days you’ll find her on the slow, warm coastline of southern Lombok.
A visual artist with a taste for movement and stillness in equal measure, Cel’s work blends fine-line realism with a looseness that comes from an almost meditative place.
After rediscovering her creative flow in 2020, she’s taken her sketchbook across Europe in a van, picked up surfboards and snowboards along the way and eventually landed on the same island we call home!
We’ve admired Cel’s work for a while, so it only made sense to kick off the Xanadu Artist Collaboration Series with someone who embodies our love for freedom, community and beauty!
We gave her no brief, no logos, no rules… just a blank canvas and a simple prompt: what does Xanadu and life in Lombok feel like to you?
You can learn more about Cel in our very first Xanadu Artist Collaboration interview.
Check it out!
Q. So Cel, you’re the first artist in the new Xanadu Artist Collaboration Series. No pressure, but how does it feel to kick this thing off?
I’m so honored to be the first artist featured in this collection!
I loved the freedom I was given to just let ideas flow and create what was in my mind. For me nothing beats designing in my own style without limitations.
Q. You’ve been living in Lombok for a couple of years now. Can you paint us a little picture of your life there?
When I first arrived I lived in Kuta like most people. After a while my partner and I moved somewhere quieter where we could follow our dreams.
We built a small wooden house in the jungle surrounded by nature and just a short walk from my favorite surf spot. We live simply, grow our own fruits and vegetables and share our home with our animals.
Moving here was the best decision we made. I’m surrounded by everything that inspires my work.
Q. What do you think makes Lombok a special place to live and create?
Lombok has so much untouched nature, kind people and incredible surf spots. Surfing helps me clear my mind, stay present and spark new ideas for my art.
The slow pace here lets me create when inspiration strikes and rest when I need to. There’s no pressure, just going with the flow and taking each day as it comes.
Q. Tell us a little about the design you created for this collab. What inspired it?
Surfing was my biggest inspiration! I went for a sunrise surf to find ideas for this project and while sitting in the lineup the design popped into my head.
As soon as I left the water I sketched it out, then tweaked it until I was happy. Like many of my pieces it’s got elements I love like the sun, palm trees, waves, surfboards and tigers, but I enjoyed experimenting with them in new shapes and styles.
Q. How did it feel to be given full artistic freedom for this project?
It felt amazing to create exactly what I love with no boundaries.
The trust and appreciation for my work made it a really special experience. And since this project’s connected to surfing it brought together my two biggest passions.
Q. You’ve done everything from prints to paintings. How does designing something that people wear shift the way you approach the work?
I love designing shirts because it’s where my creative journey began. I’d stopped drawing for years but during COVID I couldn’t find shirts I liked so I started making my own.
People loved them and that reignited my passion for art. These days I prefer drawing digitally over working on canvas because it gives me more freedom and helps avoid printing mistakes.
Q. There’s something really beautiful about how your lifestyle blends art, nature and simplicity. Has that always been important to you or did it come with island life?
It’s been a process to find my style and a path to finding myself. My travels influence my work but certain elements like my connection to nature have always been there.
I learned that from my mother and I’ve spent most of my life outdoors. The minimalist style reflects who I am. The sea’s one of my greatest inspirations and surfing gives me peace and the perfect balance to my art.
Q. This collab is as much about you as it is about us. Why do you think artist partnerships like this matter in small creative communities?
Opportunities like this are what let artists live their dreams!
Behind every small business is a person with a vision and supporting each other helps us all be seen. I admire anyone who follows their passion and shares their talents with the world.
Q. What’s your creative process like? Do you wait for inspiration or just show up and see what comes out? Do you play any music while working and if so, what’s one of your most played tracks right now?
I start by thinking about the project and letting ideas develop, often while surfing or walking.
I don’t force it, the ideas come when they’re ready. Once I have one I sketch it then refine it. While working I usually listen to true crime podcasts or punk rock.
Q. What does your dream day in Lombok look like?
It starts early, waking up with the sun, then surfing.
Afterward I have coffee on the beach, find a shady spot or head to my studio to create, spend time with our animals and maybe surf again. In the evening I make gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce with my partner then call it a night.
Q. And one more before we go. How did you land on the name Wakandelsol?
Choosing an artist name was tricky. I first went with Soul Eye Art but it never felt right. I wanted something personal but not too basic.
The Lakota culture played a big role in my childhood so I looked for a word from their language and found “wakan” meaning “soul.” I combined it with “del sol” meaning “of the sun” to become Wakan Del Sol or “soul of the sun,” which fits me perfectly.
Want to see more of Cel’s world? Head over to wakandelsol.ch to explore her latest creations.
And if you’re keen to get your hands on one of these limited-edition tees, go to the button bellow and discover all about our Xanadu Artist Collaboration Series
