Alir Alur: A Sekala 369 Art and Tattoo Showcase

Witness a unique exhibition featuring the artworks of two acclaimed Bali-based artists, Ade Itameda and Eka Mardiys, taking place between 9 to 17 November 2024 at Masa Masa. ‘Alir Alur: A Sekala 369 Art and Tattoo Showcase’ brings different disciplines, inspirations and mediums together into one space, where traditional batik patterns and contemporary tattoo artistry can find common ground. 

Ade and Eka are best-known as revered tattoo artists, working out of their own studio, Sekala 369. The studio has built a reputation for its distinctive visual aesthetic that channels Balinese and Indonesian iconography, bridging it into the world of tattoo and contemporary art.

Collaborating with Bali-based fashion and batik brand, Pithecanthropus, the modern-day artists will showcase a range of drawings, paintings, prints and photographs at Masa Masa, a gallery, restaurant and concept store in Gianyar. Ade and Eka were challenged to adapt batik collections from Pithecanthropus into new mediums, transforming these visuals into artworks and even tattoo designs.

Furthermore, the exhibition also presents Bali Project Volume 01, a collaboration of Ade Itameda and photographer Ifan Ardiansyah. This project is a series of tattoo photographs inspired by Balinese pepatraan (organic floral pattern) and keketusan (repeating floral pattern).

‘Alir’ in Indonesian means to flow, whilst ‘Alur’ in Indonesian means a sequence or a water channel. This exhibition thus celebrates the diverse styles (‘aliran’ in Indonesian) of Indonesian fabric patterns and ornaments that inspire Sekala 369; mainly Bali, Java, and Peranakan; or indeed the distinct tattoo styles the artists draw inspiration from, including Old School, American Traditional, and Japanese. Finally, this ‘flowing between channels’ also speaks to the shifting mediums upon which the artists work, be it human skin, Kamasan canvas and paper.

The opening event on Saturday, 9 November 2024, will feature an artists talk with Ade Itameda and Eka Mardiys, followed by a DJ performance by Irama Utara.

On the last weekend of the exhibition (Friday, 15 Nov to Sunday, 17 Nov), the exhibition will also host special flash tattoo sessions (1pm to 7pm only) — the flash tattoo designs will be those inspired by the Pithecanthropus batik collection.

The exhibition runs from 9 to 17 November, between 10am and 9pm daily. The exhibition is free to enter.

Check out the artists’ work and style at @sekala369

Masa Masa
Jl. Subak Telaga I No.9, Ketewel, Gianyar, Bali
+6281946305122 (WA)
@masamasabali