Nabila Ernada is an Indonesian design researcher and media artist. Trained as a communications specialist and social strategist in ID <love>, she earned a BA in Media Studies from Universitas Indonesia (ID) and later an MA in Social Design from Design Academy Eindhoven (NL). Her work explores the in-between zones of surveillance and resistance, tracing how media infrastructures govern visibility, legality, and the body, particularly within Indonesian contexts.
video art
The Lending Machine explores the precarious nature of Indonesia's booming fintech scene, particularly the dark side of P2P lending platforms. These platforms offer easy access to capital, mirroring the accessibility of a vending machine, but conceal exploitative practices. Undisclosed fees and intimidation tactics trap borrowers in cycles of debt, while their personal data is weaponized for profit or harassment.
This multimedia installation uses the vending machine as a metaphor for the deceptive ease of obtaining loans. Subtle notifications, mimicking the fine print on a candy bar wrapper, expose the hidden costs lurking beneath the surface. The accompanying essay by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney serves as a metaphorical receipt, a document that reveals the true cost of this financial transaction.