Explaining Bali’s Subak System (and Why Rice Fields are Cultural Landscapes)
In this episode of the NOW! Bali Podcast we help to unpack the complex subak irrigation system found in Bali. This system is far more than just an agricultural feature, it is a socio-cultural organisation that not only helps to ensure fertility of Bali’s rice fields but creates a connection between God, people and nature.
French Graffiti Artist Cyril Kongo Opens Studio Atop The Apurva Kempinski Bali
It seems that Bali’s allure continues to attract artists from around the world. From the time of Walter Spies (arrived 1927) to Antonio Blanco (arrived 1952) and onwards, the island has continued to be a hive for foreign artists and creatives alike. This has been brought to a new level at The Apurva Kempinski Bali,
Cakravala: A New Cultural Platform Elevating Emerging Indonesian Artists
I am fascinated by the evolution of creativity within contemporary culture. We are living in exciting times and the pandemic has accelerated our positive human potential. I believe the artists and creatives lead the way. Their imagination, activities and questioning introduce society to new, functional experiential forms and technologies manifesting in a better world –
How Balinese Creatives Responded to the Cancelled Ogoh-Ogoh Parades
One of the most fantastic artistic attributes of the Balinese culture is the Ogoh-ogoh. Extraordinary papier-mâché and bamboo representations of external and inner demons manifest as frightening giant sculptures. Ogoh-ogoh are paraded through village crossroads across Bali during the Ngrupuk parade on the eve of Nyepi. A cleansing ceremony that ushers in the first day
Paksi Ireng : A Balinese Artist’s Philosophy on Nature, Disaster and Human Perspective
Balinese artist and activist, Marmar Herayukti, shared his philosophy behind his re-introduced work ‘Paksi Ireng’, the Blackbird. An ogoh-ogoh statue that asks its viewers to question their perspective on nature, natural disasters and how humans fit into the natural world. Man vs Nature The anthropocene. The age of humans, an (unofficial) epoch defined by humanity’s
Hujan Memedi : The Demon of Bali’s Sun Showers
Have you ever wondered how it can rain when the sun is shining? Whilst science has its explanations, Balinese folklore has its very own colourful story behind this phenomenon. We all have heard some strange answers as to why it happens. One popular saying, with southern United States origins, indicates the devil is ‘kissing his
Made Valasara’s Artistic Exploration of Material Potential
One of the most enjoyable aspects of observing the Bali art scene is witnessing young artists’ creative development. To grow, budding artists must take risks and experiment. Some willingly embrace change, others less so. An artist’s career is about the journey, not the destination. There is no substitute for dedication, honesty and hard work. Contemporary
Lontar : Bali’s Palm-Leaf Manuscripts
Lontar is a literary artefact that has shaped the Balinese culture we know today. Not just any literature,it’s viewed as the island’s intellectual property to which the Balinese turn to for life lessons, philosophies, medicine and more. Since the olden days, the Balinese would turn to this literature when in search of a spiritual progression
The Ogoh-Ogoh Monsters of Bali’s Ngrupuk Parade
Bali’s Ogoh-Ogoh Parade is a stunning display of Balinese creativity and culture rolled into one. As a ‘Pre-Nyepi’ festivity, these giant demonic effigies are ceremoniously carried and displayed during the Ngrupuk Parade. Let’s start with Nyepi. Catur Brata Penyepian, otherwise known as Nyepi, marks the first day of the new Çaka Calendar year. The Çaka calendar
What is Nyepi? Understanding Bali’s Day of Silence
How do Westerners open the New Year? With revelry. How do the Balinese open their own New Year. With a full day of silence, called Nyepi. But exactly what is Nyepi? It is the first day of the Saka calendar year and is also Bali’s day of silence. Here, Jean Couteau explains in detail the
Exhibition Highlights Ancient Lontar, A Balinese Artform of Miniature Manuscripts
One of the many fascinating aspects of the Balinese culture is the recording of sacred knowledge onto miniature manuscripts known as the lontar. Characters scribed with a sharp instrument into dried palm leaves are then rubbed with hazelnut containing a black dye. The access is removed, revealing fine graphic lines upon the pale beige coloured
Swoofone: A Glimpse into the Future of Balinese Art
‘The Island of the Gods’ is an incomparable sensuous experience. Mysterious and captivating, our perception encounters fascinating visual and non-visible layers. Bali’s thriving artistic landscape increasingly contributes an aesthetically potent and relevant dimension. One young artist has recently impacted the local art scene, initially honing his ideas within the street art realm. I Wayan Subudi
Kang Cing Wie and King Jayapangus : A Bali-China Love Story
Bali’s history is always entertaining; facts and truths are often enmeshed with fantasy and mysticism. One such ‘history’ is thhat of Kang Cing Wie and King Jayapangus, significant for many reasons: it represents an important geopolitical and cultural moment between China and Bali; it birthed important effigies of worship, the Barong Landung; and it is,