The Tiger & the Palm-wine Tapper – The Story of I Papaka
We begin this edition (The Drinks Edition) with a fabulous illustration by the Balinese artist I Ketut Gede, titled ‘Fable of the bull, the tiger and the palm-wine tapper’ (c.1890), displaying an early depiction of a Balinese character harvesting ‘tuak’ from a palm tree. The illustration was commissioned by the Dutch linguist Herman Neubronner van der
Artist Agung Pramana Questions Colonial Propaganda Narratives & Imagery
Three hundred and thirty-six blue and white cyanotype prints, 20 by 15cm, arranged floor to ceiling within a 6-meter-deep by 5-meter-wide alcove of the Jogja National Museum (JNM), distinguish *After Exotic 1931*, a contemporary art installation by Balinese printmaker Agung Pramana. Immediately captivating, Pramana’s visual formula pulsates. Reproduction archival images, Balinese sculptures of mythical creatures,
The Mystical Homecoming of Contemporary Artist Gede Austana
A blindfolded “fractured” skull is engulfed in flames, with both halves distinguished by text. ‘This Is All I Know’ is a confession of frustration and hopelessness in a vibrant pop-meets-street-art style. Painted by Balinese-German artist Gede Austana, it is an emotional response to the racial discrimination he often endures, and was a highlight of the
W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp – The First European Artist in Bali
In the early decades of the 20th century, a small wave of European artists began visiting Bali, drawn by its natural beauty, rich Hindu culture, and vibrant artistic traditions. Dutch artist W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp, regarded as the first European artist to extensively document the island starting in 1904, paved the way with his sensitive drawings, etchings,
Meet Bayoe Edan, the Digital Dalang of the Modern Age
A shadow puppet master (dalang) goes off-script, off-stage and online, reimagining a traditional medium of social teaching and repurposing it for modern audiences and media. How is Bali resisting the relentless transformation of its original being? The rising tide is indeed from the Sea. In some instances, this manifests as intellectual debate or political manoeuvring;
Art in Construction: Artist Rostarr’s Monumental Mural Enveloping Potato Head Beach Club
Those visiting Potato Head Beach Club are currently being welcomed by a new face – ‘Evolving Landscapes’, a black and white mural of epic proportions by Korean-American artist, Rostarr. Potato Head Beach Club first opened in 2010, and its initial unveiling captured the imagination with its Colosseum-like façade fashioned by one of Indonesia’s most renowned
The Hidden Philosophy of Keben
Everybody knows that many Balinese ceremonies require a large number of offerings, including canang, kwangen, fruits, and much more. To make carrying these offerings easier, Balinese people often use a woven bamboo vessel known as a keben and it is a familiar sight at temples and religious ceremonies across the island. But why is this particular
DERAU dan KEMARAU, Noise and Drought Make Way For Compelling Art At Project Etere’s Ubud Residence
A secret to successfully conveying artistic ideas to an audience is the artist’s ability to economise their visual design language. “Less is more” is a creative philosophy that emphasises the value of austerity and minimalism. By reducing unnecessary elements in an art composition, the artist can achieve greater clarity and effectiveness in communication. One of
Senduro: The Persistent Shadow of Majapahit over Java and Bali
In the Balinese psyche, Java is never a distant memory. It exists as a physical and psychical tether, illustrated by the myth of Bali as a dragon’s tail severed from the Great Body of Java.This link is explicitly evoked in the 15th-century Tantu Panggelaran, which first describes the gods transporting fragments of India’s cosmic Meru
The Origins, History, and Significance of Keris in Indonesia
Few objects capture Indonesia’s rich heritage like the keris. Distinctive to Java and Bali, this dagger is more than a weapon — it is a ceremonial cultural symbol. Keris are used in many different respects: as weapons, as talismans with magical powers, as sanctified heirlooms, as equipment for court soldiers, as an accessory for ceremonial
Megapapan: A Highlight of Artistry.Bali’s Artisan Fair at Ubud’s SIKA Gallery
The rise of digital illustrators is a burgeoning phenomenon in the contemporary art and creative spheres of Bali and Indonesia. This was especially emphasised during the COVID pandemic when the global physical art infrastructure shut down and the virtual world flourished. Illustration is a powerful visual design language which distinguishes itself from fine art by
Emerging Balinese Curator & Gallerist Krisna Sudharma Steps Out Onto the International Art Stage
NOW! Bali Magazine talks with Krisna Sudharma, curator and artistic director of Nonfrasa, a contemporary art gallery in Ubud, established in early 2021, during the second year of the pandemic. We reflect on Nonfrasa’s first five years of operation, Krisna’s vision, journey, and his collaboration with Desa Projects, culminating in Octopus 26: Melange, a group
Cili: The Symbol of Beauty and Fertility
Have you ever heard the term ‘jegegne cara cili’? It means ‘as beautiful as a Cili’ and is quite the high form of compliment coming from a Balinese person, as Cili is considered a symbol of beauty. However, what is Cili, and what does it even look like? Cili plays an important role in religious
