The Relationship Between Bali & Indonesia: How Do They See Each Other?
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 for the last 50 years,
Balinese Artist Wahyu Senayadi Honoured in UOB Indonesian Painting of the Year 2021 Awards
Congratulations goes to Balinese artist Made Wahyu Senayadi, winner of the Bronze Award in the Established Artist Category of the UOB Indonesian Painting of the Year Award 2021. ‘Spirit of Friends’, Senayadi’s painting, was selected from 41 finalists by a jury of art experts and honoured during a virtual ceremony on 30 October 2021 in
Pawintenan: The Sacred Balinese Initiation
The shrill and accelerating jingle of the bell accompanies and almost drowns out the soft muttering of a man’s voice, lotus-sitting, in the small thatched pavilion, high above and alone, his head capped by an extraordinary tiara. This is a high priest performing meweda, a call addressed to the gods of the cardinal points, the
La Salaga: A Bali-Sulawesi Legend Immortalised in the Iconic Balinese Kamasan Painting Style
The La Salaga legend from West Sulawesi is an epic that rivals the fantastic Hindu tales from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. This distinct tale merging a new Islamic religious culture of Sulawesi with the Hindu’s of south Bali is, unfortunately, a lesser-known episode of Indonesian history within the local and national consciousness. An exciting
Know Thyself: Dayu Sartika’s Inner Journey Through Art
Socrates (469–399 B.C.E.), the ancient Greek philosopher, famously declared, “Know thyself”. Carved into stone at the entrance to Apollo’s temple at Delphi, the inscription has encouraged people throughout the ages to engage in a search for self-understanding. Emerging Balinese artist Ida Ayu Komang Sartika Dewi’s creative practice strips away the invisible layers of her being
Tumpek Uduh: Balinese Hindu Honour Their Plants
The special ceremony to honour plants is known as Tumpek Uduh, a ritual that falls on Saniscara Kliwon Wariga, a day in which God gave grace to mankind in the world. Also known as Tumpek Wariga, Tumpek Bubuh or Tumpek Pengatag, this auspicious is celebrated every 210 days following the Balinese pawukon calendar. The worship of Tumpek Uduh is an offering to the
How Balinese Dance Has Changed Over the Last 50 Years
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
DEVFTO: Indonesia’s First Printmaking Institute Opens in Ubud
A new era in Indonesian printmaking began in September 2021 with the opening of the DEVFTO Printmaking Institute at the Sika Gallery in Ubud. Established by Indonesia’s leading art printmaker Devy Ferdianto with over 30 years of experience, the knowledge of the techniques and materials is highly specific and varied. DEVFTO represents an exciting development
‘Neo Denpasar’: Aditya Parama’s NFT Artwork Describes a Dystopian Bali Future
‘Neo Denpasar’ is an NFT animation artwork describing the Denpasar market in the year 2077. In the futuristic nighttime scenario, the only cultural reference is emerging Balinese digital artist Aditya Parama, ‘Pan Edgy Babi Guling’, a suckling pig warung. Staffed by robots, the warung is patronised by humans with gleaming chrome skin. Drones fly throughout
The Changing Relationship Between the Balinese and their Environment
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
Titik Dua, Ubud’s Creative Boutique Hotel Helps to Redefine Bali Tourism
A unique, relatively new, landmark in Ubud, Titik Dua, is sited back from the Mas village thoroughfare, behind two buildings distinguished by Balinese architecture. An extraordinary aspect of this boutique hotel is the “runway” suspended fifteen meters above the ground, seemingly to capture the rays of the morning sun. The hotel lobby entry is one
Expatriate Artist Izzy Ivy’s Delightful Visionary Paintings Mediate Between the Worlds
Since prehistoric man’s quest for greater knowledge through inscribing symbols on cave walls, artists have undertaken a vital responsibility within society as intermediaries between the upper and lower worlds. They translate the esoteric into decipherable, visual languages to help explain the mysteries of life and how to navigate the often hostile, forces of nature. Every
Sastia Naresvari: Sharing the Relevance of Art via Live Painting
The increasing presence of women artists on the Bali contemporary art scene introduces fresh, feminine vigour into a sphere that was once primarily patriarchal. Balinese, Indonesian and foreign expatriate female artists are a rising creative force. They are regularly exhibiting in Canggu, Denpasar, Jimbaran and Ubud. Emerging Indonesian artist Sastia Naresvari is an abstract expressionistic
