I Gusti Nyoman Darta: Following the Lines of Lempad
If you are a fanatic of Bali, you will be interested by the character of I Gusti Nyoman Darta. He had an early life typical of the feudal system of the days. Barely 5, he was entrusted by his father to one of the princes of Ubud, Tjokorde Ngurah Puri Saren. He took the mantle

In Memoriam: Celebrating International Contemporary Art Icon, Ashley Bickerton
For more than three decades, Ashley Bickerton’s presence shone brightly on the international art stage. A courageous, rebellious artist, his genius imagination existed on the periphery of what was conceivably possible. Bickerton rose to incredible heights in contemporary art, positioning his voice as singular to the global audience. The most internationally renowned contemporary artist in

Wayan Kun Adnyana’s Unique Mission Within the Development of Balinese Contemporary Art
A chorus of beautiful rhythmic black lines describes the violent, pulsating ocean whipped into life by tumultuous winds. A vast wooden sailing vessel encounters the might of the natural elements. It safely transports many; warriors and families in search of new horizons across the seas. The expanse of the boat’s structure is illustrated within a

Contemporary Painter Gede Sayur’s Light-hearted Reflections of Modern Bali
Contemporary art is an empowering communication platform allowing artists to give a visible presence to the invisible. The artist’s role is often to highlight important socio-political and environmental issues to create awareness and hopefully change. Gede ‘Sayur’ Suanda is a multi-talented contemporary Balinese artist who expresses statements about the rapid changes engulfing Bali in both

Weaving the Ocean: Ari Bayuaji’s Landmark Social-Environmental Art Project Achieves International Exposure
Indonesian born contemporary artist Ari Bayuaji has an intimate relationship with the ocean. An association that spans two decades and embraces two distinct viewpoints. Ari has ritually walked Sanur beach, stretching more than five kilometres; often exploring the mangrove forests fringing Serangan harbour. As an avid diver, the isolation within the vast and mysterious aquatic

Richard Jacobs: An America-Bali Cross-Cultural Artistic Journey
In 1987, American artist Richard Jacobs, accompanied by his new wife Marianna, found himself living among the secluded rice fields of Camuphan, Ubud. A Masters of Fine Art graduate from Yale University, the twenty-six-year-old had been awarded a 1987-88 Henry Luce Scholarship to paint and teach in Bali. Established in New York in 1936 by

Kadek Didin Jirot: New Horizons in Contemporary Balinese Sculpture
The power and beauty of Mother Nature communicates with us in mysterious ways. So often, we are captured in the moment – in silence; we behold its magnitude and grandeur. Yet, nature’s physical and non-physical essence is a source of eternal creativity. The dramatic, undulating profile of Bali’s volcanic skyline inspires emerging artist Kadek Didin

The Art of Luh’De Gita: Alternative Realities Between the Digital and Natural Worlds
Emerging female Balinese contemporary painter Luh Gede Gita Sangita Yasa has seemingly materialised from anonymity and appeared on the Bali art scene. After five years living in West Java, studying fine art at the Institute of Technology Bandung, she returned in 2020 to live in Batubulan, Bali. However, media exposure in international magazines and exhibitions

Bali’s Eclectic Art Spaces & Galleries
Unlike Bali’s classic and long-established museums, with their timeless but more static exhibits, these selected art spaces in Bali showcase the work of more contemporary and new artists, presenting the most current snapshot of the island’s artistic landscape. The venues listed below are a mixture of contemporary galleries to concept stores to flexible spaces that

Bagus Ari Maruta Elevates Balinese Decorative Painting to Exciting New Heights
Balinese painting has evolved as a sacred narrative form of knowledge transfer within a social context. The Classical pictures merged old indigenous beliefs with introduced religion, forming a codified cultural system to inspire harmony within the community. The images were displayed within the temples and palaces; and never within a family compound for enjoyment. Decorative

Fraksi Epos Exhibition: Indonesia’s Contemporary Art Scene Come Together
Inside the construction site of South Beach, a new expansion to the Discovery Shopping Mall in Kuta, an innovative art exhibition and showcase has manifested within the development. Titled Ruang Baur Seni: Fraksi Epos 2022, this one-of-a-kind art event sees a huge collaboration of Bali’s many creative communities, together displaying a mosaic of Indonesia’s up-and-coming

Photographer Gung Ama Inspires Memories of Pre-colonial Bali
The 21st-century digital revolution propels us into a vast and exciting future. Empowering individuals and communities with an array of creative opportunities, the onslaught of the new, however, consequentially disrupts the old. As the rapidly-evolving digital sphere increasingly casts its spell upon us, once state-of-the-art technologies are being swept aside and forgotten, along with essential

‘Neopitamaha: Tradition [in] Translation’ Art Exhibition: A Visual Discussion of Bali’s Socio-Cultural Issues
An excellent art exhibition is currently on display at Titik Dua Ubud, titled ‘Neopitamaha: Tradition [in] Translation’, featuring eleven Indonesian contemporary artists. The exhibition is a significant moment for art on the island as it takes inspiration from the original Pita Maha art group of 1937. This group, guided by both Western and Balinese artists