When contemporary abstract painter Jake Paul White arrived in Sumba for an artist residency at Cap Karoso, he wasn’t looking for a holiday. He came in search of colour, connection, and a chance to slow down. Known for using natural pigments like betelnut, Jake was curious to rediscover tones and textures that time had nearly erased. What he found was more than inspiration—it was a deeply human exchange. As he shares in our video, “They didn’t teach me culture — they invited me into it. I danced, laughed, listened.”
This story marks the beginning of Check In, our new video series. Each episode takes you beyond the surface of beautiful spaces, exploring the design, culture, and people that make them extraordinary. And where better to begin than at Cap Karoso in Sumba—a place that redefines what it means to travel with purpose and creativity.
Jake’s days in Sumba were spent not only painting but learning—through conversations, ceremonies, and simple everyday moments. He describes it as being welcomed into a rhythm far removed from the fast pace of the outside world. Our Cap Karoso video captures Jake’s residency in all its honesty: slow mornings, long talks, laughter over meals, and the quiet moments where the island’s wild beauty seeps into the canvas.
The setting makes it easy to see why creativity thrives here. Cap Karoso, designed by GFAB Architects, and opened in 2023, is a lesson in restraint and respect. Brutalist lines in raw concrete are softened with local stone, reclaimed timber, and woven screens that recall traditional Sumbanese craft. Bali Landscape Company created roofs planted with native grasses help the buildings almost disappear into the landscape, while open layouts invite in the sea breeze and endless horizon.
Inside, Bitte Design Studio adds warmth and intimacy. Polished terrazzo floors, handmade teak furniture, and ikat-inspired textiles ground the interiors in texture and tactility. Watching the video, you see how the suites open seamlessly to plunge pools and balconies, some with copper bathtubs perched among the treetops. It’s a design that invites you to live both indoors and out, never losing touch with the island around you.
But Cap Karoso is more than architecture—it’s a place built on exchange. The artist-in-residence program that welcomed Jake is a cornerstone of its identity. Creatives are invited to engage with Sumba’s traditions, not as observers, but as participants. Jake’s paintings, infused with natural pigments and local stories, feel like living testaments to the time he spent here.
Meals carry the same spirit of connection. At the heart of the resort sits a nine-metre communal chef’s table, where farm-to-table dishes grown in Cap Karoso’s own gardens are shared. It’s food that nourishes and unites, turning strangers into companions under the glow of an open kitchen.
What lingers most after watching our Cap Karoso video is not just the beauty of the buildings or the landscape—it’s the feeling. The shifting shadows across concrete walls, the soft hum of grasses swaying on green rooftops, the warmth of being invited into a culture rather than watching from the outside. This is not simply a luxury resort; it’s a sanctuary where design, art, and tradition converge.
Take a moment to watch the full video. You’ll see how Jake’s journey at Cap Karoso captures the true essence of Sumba: a place that doesn’t just inspire, but stays with you long after you’ve left.
Photos and video by Bali Interiors
Explore Cap Karosco at www.capkaroso.com
