Artaku Gallery Of Indonesian Paintings

The Island of Bali

        Modern art in Bali appeared slightly behind Java with the discovery of the "Island of the Gods" by Europeans in the early 20th century. With colonization came "love fever" for anything tropics. Thus Bali had its fare share of traveling artists. Two of them, Walter Spies and Rudoft Bonnet, stayed on and contributed significantly  to the development of the contemporary Balinese paintings.

        Earlier well-known styles of Balinese drawings may be outlined as follows:
        Kamasan & Wayang  -  Probably the oldest traditional style and originated from artists of Kamasan village, mostly depicting wayang mythology.
        Batuan  -  Typical of this village's style was a canvas completely filled with elaborate and delicate design. No corner or small space left bare. The subject usually depicts vividly everyday village life.
        Ubud    -  Borrowing  from the works of Walter Spies and Rudof Bonnet, who resided in Bali before World War II, Ubud developed its own contemporary style. This is in addition to its own traditional style of portraying the unique invisible world of the Balinese. The metaphysics of gods, demons and spirits which roam the earth.
        Sanur's Coastal  -  Another notable style is from the coastal village of Sanur. It is a characterization with a primitive rendering of the traditional way of life in the rural areas.

        It is clear that geography to a certain extent and outside influence determine the subject matter. However, Bali's extremely vibrant cultural life creates  Bali as the binding central theme itself. Presumably, the very same binding force that has made it possible for the people of  the "Island of the Gods" to pursue and maintain a life similar to that of their ancestor's centuries ago.
  

List of Painters :

I. Made Arya Palguna
J. J. D. Sudamia