The Ancestors’ Cult
The cult of the ancestors is the deepest and most indigenous element of the Balinese religion, and still dominates much of the ritual life of the local people. Let us give a look at this cult, such as it survives in Bali. The souls of the ancestors reside in a place often called the “Old
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
Inside the Fascinating Subject of Balinese Colour Symbology
Colour and movement are two of the most captivating aspects of the Bali experience. The diversity of the spectacular landscape contrasts dramatically with the vibrant and fascinating traditional culture; two of Bali’s most potent attractions. We are familiar with the creativity and colour of the offerings, the superbly decorated performance and ceremonial costumes, and the
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
Is the Balinese ‘Cult of Ancestors’ Becoming a More Normative Hinduism?
Journalist Eric Buvelot and socio-ethnologist Jean Couteau have recorded 20 hours of discussion about changes that have happened in Bali since the 70’s. The conversation was structured and segmented according to many different aspects of Balinese life, mostly from a socio-historical perspective, to trace all the overturning in Balinese mores since 50 years, when modernity
Explaining the Role and Importance of Water in Bali | Episode 22
Listen to this article through the NOW! Bali Podcast: Available On:iTunes • Spotify • Google Podcasts • Pocket Casts • Radio Public From the gurgling mountain spring to the churning sea, water has many parts to play in Bali. It is a revered element incumbent in everyday life, at least for the Balinese Hindu, who are said to even take its form as they
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
Remembering Covarrubias, a Pioneering Bali Icon
Celebrated during the 20th-century as an icon in the Bali literature and art spheres, the ultra-talented Mexican Miguel Covarrubias’ witnessed and recorded the distinctions of Bali. His creative endeavours distinguished him from other foreigners. As the door to international tourism reopens, it’s significant to honour his extraordinary contributions and remember Bali’s original allure. Covarrubias’ book,
A History of Islam in Bali: A Story of Tolerance
Indonesia is a nation of 273 million people, 88% of whom are registered as Muslim. Bali is the only region of the country where the majority of the population is Hindu – although Balinese Hindus, make up only 1.7% of the Indonesian population. In Bali, 90% of the population is classified as Hindu, but the
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
Symbolism of the Barong Landung: A China-Bali Connection
Listen to this article through the NOW! Bali Podcast: Available On:iTunes • Spotify • Google Podcasts • Pocket Casts • Radio Public Found in most banjars across Bali, the distinct appearance of the Barong Landung characters are unmistakeable in the assortment of Balinese religious effigies. This conspicuous couple, always found together, are at face-value just symbols of an old Balinese love story. However, digging
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
