Batara Indra Soepraba (he/they), known as Mister Obat, is an Indonesian-American lens-based artist in London. Holding an MA from the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester, their practice sits at the intersection of fine art photography and visual anthropology — exploring the emotional landscapes of memory, identity and how individuals and communities construct their visual myth.
Influenced by Asian poetic-photography traditions, his work foregrounds tenderness, ambiguity and emotional restraint. Through a slow, observational process rooted in collaboration, conversation and trust, he creates images that function as visual prose — translating interior states, quiet griefs and subtle transformations that often go unseen. He is drawn to narratives of ageing, care and the shifting dynamics between independence and dependence, informed by lived experience within the Indonesian diaspora.
Their work has been shown at Photofusion Gallery London, HOME Manchester and internationally at the Indonesia Photo Fair. He is a Pannafoto Future Talent at Jakarta's Pannafoto Institute, a World Press Photo partner organisation, mentored directly by Yoppy Pieter — World Press Photo juror and Joop Swart alum; subsequently, Obat was invited to teach on a few occasions by director Ng Swan Ti, herself a World Press Photo juror. Before his artistic practice, Obat co-managed a creative consultancy in Indonesia, working with adidas, Four Seasons and Mercedes-Benz.
-
EDUCATION & TRAINING
MA Visual Anthropology | University of Manchester
BA International Development | University of California - Berkeley
Panna Future Talent | PannaFoto Institute Jakarta
NOTABLES
Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2026
Submitted - Awaiting Results (London)
LensCulture - Critics' Choice Awards 2026
Submitted - Awaiting Results (International)
Portfolio Review with Kadir von Lohuizen - JIPFest 2025
Official Invitation (Jakarta)
Photofusion - Salon/25 2025
Official Selection (London)
Indonesia Photo Fair 2024
Official Invitation (Jakarta)
Lusting to Wander 2024
Duo Exhibition (Manchester)
HOME - Manchester Open 2024
Official Selection (Manchester)
Solo Photo Festival Indonesia 2022
Official Selection (Surakarta)
Kodak 2018
Featured Image (International)
The Friendly Reminder Show 2017
Group Exhibition (Jakarta)