Soma Pandji Giovannini
Soma loves art and painting and has a keen interest in music, cooking, architecture, interior design, landscape, philosophy and buddhism.
She has an extensive background in the fashion industry, working as a designer, style forecaster and sales|marketing manager for many of Australia’s top retail stores and labels. Since its inception in 2013, Soma has been the Co-Founder, Business Development Manager and Creative Director of Abode Restoration. She holds a deep respect, passion and appreciation for all design, art and craftsmanship including our historical environment and aims to preserve Australia's heritage built culture for many years to come.
Soma was a close student of Buddhist Lama, H.E. Prince Ratu Pandji Sakti of North Bali, Indonesia for many years. Balinese Royalty are renowned artists worldwide and Soma studied with His Eminence, learning about ancient, exotic Balinese and Javanese artistic culture. She was recognized as a cultural attaché between Australia and Indonesia, and as such, in 1999 was knighted as a Member of the Pandji Royal Family, where she was given her honorary title, Lady Soma Pandji.
Education
As an Artist, Soma holds a Diploma of Visual Arts, RMIT (2001) and a Degree with High Distinction in Fashion, RMIT (1986). Since the age of 14, Soma studied art and painting, under the private tuition of Internationally renown Italian-Yugoslav Landscape Artist, Antonio Goglia for 7 years. She was a Member of the Doncaster|Templestowe Art Society for 4 years, studying and exhibiting with leading Australian Tonal Still-Life Artists including Peg Hyville and was also a member and student of The Victorian Artists Society for 3 years in her early 20's. Throughout 2001-02 Soma Resided in Philadelphia and New York, for 7 months where she attended regular life-drawing classes at the The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial School in Philadelphia. She also recently studied Painting 1 + 2 with Jennifer Whitten at The Art Room (2021). She is currently a member and student again at The Victorian Artists Society learning from Tim Murphy. To further her experience and passion for art, Soma spent 2 years as a part-time Volunteer and Member of the Museum of Modern Art, Heide. Australian contemporary artists who have been recent mentors and teachers with her more contemporary expressionist works include; Derek O’Connor, Robert Hollingworth, Vera Moller, Steven Cox, Peter Westwood and Loretta Quinn.
Soma has participated in various Group Exhibitions in Australia- The Doncaster|Templestowe Artists Society (1986), RMIT Student Art Space, Melbourne (1999-00), Aardwolf Galleries, Melbourne, ‘Upcoming Artists’ (1999), Crown Casino, Southbank, ‘Italian Artists in Australia’ (1999), Dickerson Gallery, Richmond, ‘Buddhist Art’ (2002), Gallery Ranfurlie, Glen Iris, ‘Impermanence...nothing remains the same’ (2003). In 2000, she held a site-specific interactive installation at Kulin Nations’ Coranderk Aboriginal Reserve, Healesville, ‘108 Eucalyptus Leaf Homage’. In 2001, Soma was invited to participate in ‘Artheals’, Group Exhibition for September 11 victims at The Eyebeam Atelier, Chelsea, NYC, USA.
Acknowledgment of traditional owners.
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.