Disability Artist and Action Figure Miniature Maker, is Ready to Show His Works to the Asia-Pacific State Representatives

Jakarta (October 19, 2022) - Wawang Sunarya's fingers like having eyes. Clenched paper waste. Formed it circle like a paper ball. It didn't take long, the results of his work turned into a doll, a.k.a action figure miniature.

It should be noted that Wawang carried out the work without being led to the sketch. In the hands of this 40-year-old man, the paper waste had a high value. 

This physical disability person is seriously preparing an action figure. He prepared his work to be showed off in the exhibition booth at Integrated Center "Inten Soeweno" Bogor on October 21, 2022. 

"I am preparing some miniatures of action figures and bring it to the exhibition," he said while reaching for a crutch stick as his walking assistive device, he walked towards the table where the miniature is ready to be dried. 

The exhibition is a series of High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disability (HLIGM-FRPD) which was held at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta on October 19-21, 2022. 

In this international event, as many as 53 Delegates of Member States of the United Nations of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and 9 associated members integrated in hybrid. They can also see the action figure miniatures, the umpteenth achievement for the man who is familiarly called Wawang.

His presence at the exhibition is one of the evidence of the commitment of Indonesian Government in fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities to work and have the same opportunities in the businesses.

As a former beneficiaries of Integrated Center "Inten Soeweno" of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2009, Wawang got opportunities to work in several companies. While working, he pursues his hobby of making the action figures.

In 2012, he received an offer from a friend to participate in exhibitions and bazaars. Unexpectedly, he made it. The product was sold out. Immediately, the idea emerged to turn his hobby into a business activity to improve the family's economy.

When he started the business of making action figures, Wawang received capital assistance from MoSA in the amount of IDR 5 million in 2012. This support made him more confident to market his work in Srengseng, Kembangan, West Jakarta and in Kampung Betawi, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta.

The action figure miniature prices IDR 50.000-100.000.  The most expensive action figure that Wawang ever sold was IDR 5 million.  This is according to the level of difficulty and size of the ordered action figures, ranging from local to international superheroes and other characters to order.

Wawang, who was born in Bogor, produces these miniatures on weekdays and markets them on Saturday and Sunday.  Apart from Kampung Betawi, their products are marketed at DKI Jakarta Cooperative Office and have been marketed at the International Handycraft Trade Fair (INACRAFT) at Jakarta Convention Center Senayan in 2016. Now he markets this online in Instagram.

His business had collapsed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Wawang was confused because it was his main source of income.

However Wawang refused to surrender. The pandemic could not stop him from continuing to develop himself by participating in various entrepreneurial training opportunities. Thanks to his unyielding spirit, he won the award for outstanding participants at the Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship Event held by MayBank.

In addition, his business entered the Difabisa National Top 10 in 2021, which was initiated by Astra Disability Connection Program and received additional capital for business development.

Besides those achievement, Wawang is also a swimming athlete and won 3rd place for the number 50M Breaststroke S7 Men at the West Java Paraswimming Championship 2022.

The series of achievements that he has made are proof that persons with disabilities can be empowered. "I just want to prove that persons with disabilities can be independent and what other people do, I can do it too," he said.

His achievements have made him perform on various TV stations to share an inspiration and motivation experiences.

MoSA continues to support Wawang's business development by providing assistance with three-wheeled motorbikes as one of the implementations of Indonesia Walks Program.  Wawang will sell it around by riding his three-wheeled motorbike.

He hopes that his business can grow and empower other persons with disabilities.

Public Relation of Ministry of Social Affairs