Ketut Nugi: Reconfiguring Colonial Iconography into Balinese Art Statements
Emerging Balinese contemporary artist Ketut Nugi captured my attention in a group exhibition, ‘Documenting Perspective’ at Nonfrasa Gallery in Ubud that took place July-August 2022. Showcased within a display cabinet, ‘Irrational of Joy’ 2022 is a montage of colourful illustrations and old photographs that transports the imagination to the formative days of Dutch colonialism tourism
The Temple of the Murdered Man
People have misconceptions about Balinese religion. Many see it as strictly Hindu. It may be so in children’s school books, which emphasises classical Hindu-Indian cosmology, but this is a “fundamentalist” evolution. The Balinese may refer once in a while to Hindu gods, but the daily ritual life is dominated by the worship of ancestors of
Leyak: Balinese Sorcery and the Practice of Witchcraft
Perhaps the most feared of all of Bali’s supernatural phenomenons is the leyak (or leak), the ‘witches’ and practitioners of black magic. Ajian Pangleyakan is the study of Balinese sorcery. It is considered an ancient art and study into the realms of Bali’s niskala, or ‘unseen’, world. There is a lontar (palm leaf manuscript) on Aji
Personal Therapy Through Prett Art’s Joyous Clay Figurines
Colourful, light-hearted and cute, I was immediately captured by the art of Venty Vergianti. Her delightful pint-sized clay figurines, distinguished by jubilant emotions and childlike faces with open mouths, either smiling or bursting with laughter while sporting radiantly glazed caps, encapsulate an undeniably scrumptious art recipe. Their rotund bellies are often exaggerated, forming copious receptacles
Gebogan: Bali’s Towered Offering
Gebogan is a traditional offering used during religious ceremonies, festivals, and other important occasions. It is one of Bali’s most eye-catching offerings, tall and colourful, with various fruits and flowers arranged into a tower. During certain ceremonies the gebogan are carried upon the heads of women in long procession (known as Mapeed), making for a
Bali’s Family Folklore: The Life Lessons of Men Brayut
Folk stories are told all around the world and are part of the cultural fabric of different societies. Passed down through the generations, they are more than just bedtime stories, they are often imbued with morals and messages that reflect the values of each time and place, hoping to instil the next generation with the
NONFRASA: Bali’s Exciting New Contemporary Art Venue
Nonfrasa, a new contemporary gallery in Ubud, has captured my heart and imagination. The brainchild of Balinese creative Krisna Sudharma, Nonfrasa merges avant-garde Balinese and Indonesian contemporary art with harmonic architectural design to induce the perfect art experience. According to the website, “Nonfrasa is a platform dedicated to discovering emerging artists and rediscovering left-field work
Penampahan Galungan: Preparations and Purifications
Note: There are images of slaughtered animals and a pig over a fire, if this kind of subject matter upsets you, please be aware. It starts suddenly in the middle of the night, while people are sound asleep. It sounds like the wailing of a milk-lusting baby. But the wailing soon dies out into a
Darkness Is White: A Multimedia Exhibition of Balinese Maestro I Gusti Nyoman Lempad
On display from 15 July to 9 August 2023, ‘Darkness is White’ is an immersive multimedia exhibition that celebrates the life and work of the great I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. Held at the newly launched c | artspace (previously the AB•BC Building) in Bali Collection, Nusa Dua, the exhibition is an opportunity to see a
Ngiring: Accompanied by the Gods
‘Ngiring: Accompanied by the Gods’, is Part One of a two-part article on trance in Bali by Jean Couteau. Make sure to read NOW! Bali’s September-October 2023 edition for Part Two. Balinese religion is a complicated thing. You have what the school books and the Parisada Hindu organisation teach you: The unity of the godly
Jemana Murti: Art Beyond the Limitations of the Body and Mind
Emerging Balinese artist Jemana Murti has embarked on a distinct creative mission, anchored securely within his traditions while propelling him on an exciting trajectory and original art frontiers. The creative is exploring vast horizons for artistic development, utilising AI and 3D printing technologies. Majoring in Fine Art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in
Lembu: The Bull Sarcophagus
If one is lucky enough to witness a Balinese cremation, especially that of a high caste, one will see the impressive animal-shaped sarcophagi that are used as ‘vessels’ in this ever-important death rite. Most common used is the lembu bull sarcophagus. For the Balinese Hindu, the journey of the soul is of utmost importance. Through
Mekare-Kare: The Pandan Wars of Tenganan Pegringsingan
One of the yearly highlights at Desa Adat Tenganan Pegringsingan (Traditional Village of Tenganan Pegringsingan) is Mekare-kare, the vibrant pandan wars that mark the ‘climax’ of their ritual calendar. Found 3km north from the popular coastal town of Candidasa, Tenganan Pegringsingan is a Bali Aga village, whose way of life and customs differ greatly from
