In the age of technology and futurism, digital painter Niken Anindita sits on the opposite side of the spectrum: nature and nostalgia. The self-taught Anindita — also known as Megatruh — creates dreamlike landscapes inspired by animated films, the cosmos, and her own imaginative musings. 

While Anindita’s artistic pursuits were directly ignited by her love for certain artists (like Japanese animators Makoto Shinkai and Studio Ghibli’s Kazuo Oga), she continues to find creative inspiration in many facets of life. They bring about a multitude of emotive digital paintings, which she hopes would resonate with the viewer.

“Mostly I just mix things that spark joy and comfort,” she said. As long as it evokes wonder and nostalgia, then a piece has successfully met its purpose.

[Note: The interview below contains minor edits for clarity]

Tell us about who you are. How did art come into your life? 

At first, I was just an art appreciator. At the time, I had just graduated from university and had too much time on my hands. I joined several art sites and immediately got hooked in digital art. Around 2009, I bought a Wacom Intuos from my first salary and taught myself digital painting by looking up tutorials and other people’s works. Since then, drawing and viewing landscape paintings became my source of happiness.

What does the creation process look like for you? How do you feel while you’re creating a piece, and after a piece is complete?

For me, the process is very important. My creation involves a lot of moods — if I can’t enjoy the feelings while creating the piece, sometimes the output doesn’t come as expected. I want every piece I draw to have this “nostalgic” feel, and hopefully make other people’s day.

Who are your influences?

My main influence, the one that got me into drawing, was Makoto Shinkai. My second biggest influence after him is Kazuo Oga. 

But I have a lot of other influences and inspirations — mostly from random artists’ works and photos. [I’m also inspired by] space photos from the Hubble telescope, astronomy articles, and my own imagination.

You’ve mentioned several times before that anime is one of your primary inspirations. What are your favorite films and/or shows? How do they prompt you to create works of art?

My favorite animated film by far is Wall-E. They don’t bring influence to my art style, but they do influence my sci-fi imagination. Other anime films that I watch are of course from Studio Ghibli, Shinkai’s, Studio Chizu, and so on. Sometimes, a scene really hooks me, and I pause it and I recreate it in my head. I’ll end up turning it into a different story and concept.

You like depicting sceneries in your work. What kinds of sceneries do you enjoy painting best and why?

I enjoy painting night skies because of my love for astronomy. There’s a sense of infinity in space and the night sky. It makes us feel small and far, and I just love these feelings. I love that we humans can’t comprehend the scale of the universe, and that our time is so short and meaningless, but at the same time so significant and meaningful.

Give your home a sentimental touch with Niken Anindita’s ‘Reach’. Purchase the piece as framed wall art here.

Follow Niken Anindita on Instagram here.