renanda bali painting

History Balinese Art Painting

The art form probably most influence both by western ideas and tourist demand is painting. Traditional painting was very limited in style and subject matter, and was used primarily for temple decoration. The arrival of the western artist after WWI expanded painting beyond this limitation introduced new subject matter and brought new material for artist to work with. The best place to see examples of the various Balinese painting styles is in Ubud at Puri Lukisan Museum and Neka Museum.

Traditional Painting Balinese painting was strictly limited to three basic kinds: Langse: ider-iders; and calendars. Langse are large rectangular hangings used as decoration or curtain in palaces or temples. Ider-iders are scroll painting hung along the eaves of temples. The Calendars were usually astronological, showing the auspicious days of the each month.

Most of the paintings were narrative with mythological themes, illustrating stories from Hindu epics and literature-rather like a cartoon strip with a series of panels each telling a segment of the story. These painting were always executed in the wayang style, the flat two dimensional style imitative of the wayang kulit shows, the figures invariably shown in three-quarters view. Even the colors artist could were strictly limited to a set list of shades (red, blue, brown, yellow and a light ochre for fresh)

In these narratives the same character appeared in the several different scenes, each depicting and episode from story. The individual scenes were usually bordered by mountains, flames or ornamental walls. The deities, princes and heroes were identified by their opulent clothing, jewellery, elaborate headdresses, and their graceful postures and gestures; and the devil and giants by their bulging eyes, canine teeth, bulbous noses and bulky bodies. Klunkung is still a centre for traditional wayang style of painting and the painted ceiling of the Hall of Justice in Klungkung is fine example.

Foreign Influence Under the influence of Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet, who settled on Bali in the 1930, Balinese artist Started painting single scenes instead of narrative tales, and using scenes from everyday life rather than romantic legends as their themes. More importantly, they started painting pictures purely as picture-not as something to cover a space in a palace or temple. The idea of a painting being something you could do by it (and for which there might be a market!) was wholly new.
In one way, however, the style remained unchanged-Balinese paintings are packed full; every spare millimeter is filled in. A forest scene will have leaves and flowers filling every corner, and whole zoo of birds and other creatures. Other themes include idyllic rural scenes, energetic festival or engagingly stylized animals and fish.
This new artistic enthusiasm was interrupted by WWII and by the political turmoil of the 1950s and 60s. As the 1930s style emerged in Ubud, with particular encouragement from the Dutch painter Aries Smith. His 'Young Arties', as they were known (they weren't necessarily young), picked up where those of the 1930s had left off, painting Balinese rural scenes in brilliant techno color. (Edited from Lonely Planet Indonesia-Page 374-375 Bali Arts.)

Some characteristic Balinese Painting Style has been briefly listed

Kamasan Style
The style for which the artist of Kamasan are famous is based on the East Javanese 'wayang' art. These were basically two dimensional, iconographic representations following strict rules and guidelines as to how the characters should be portrayed. For example, a person's character and status can be seen from the colors used to portray them, his headdresses, or even the direction in which he is facing. Noblemen always have had very refined faces, while coarse characters have large, bulging eyes and fangs. Today in Kamasan you can still find people who are dedicated to painting in the traditional 'Wayang' style. One of the most famous Kamasan artist is I Nyoman Mandra, who, aside from producing his own paintings and doing restoration work, has started a school to try and keep the Wayang traditional alive.

Ubud Style
It wasn't until the early 1900s, that Western influence reached Bali. They used Asian symbols in the works of, amongst others, Paul Gauguin, Toulouse Lautrec and Camille Pissaro, Created and a new trend for Asian-influenced art, and European painters began to move to Bali. Ubud's Fame for art can be traced to the arrival of German painter Water Spies and Dutch painters Rudolf Bonnet. Together, with Indonesian Artist Gede Agung Sukawati, they are established the Pitamaha Group, which encouraged Balinese artists to be more expressive and less tradition-bound.
Influenced by the western use of perspective and everyday-life subject matter, the Ubud style is one of the most expressionists of all the Balinese schools. Despite this, Ubud art still retains many traditional features, including attention to detail and very stylized characters. Among the better known Ubud Artist are; I Gusti Ngurah Lempad, Anak Agung Gede Sobrat, Ida Bagus Made, I Gusti Ketut Kobot, Dewa Putu Bedil and I Made Sukada.

Batuan Style
Strongly Wayang based, this style involves hundreds of intricately painted representations of Balinese life, filling every available nook and cranny of the canvas. Batuan artist like I Made Budi, I Wayan Bendi, and Ni Wayan Warti, make much more of statement about life in Bali, with subject matter that includes everything from traditional village activities to camera-toting tourist, and even surfers. Earlier Batuan artist, Ida Bagus Made Togog and Ida Bagus Made Wija, dealt much more with the darker, supernatural side of life in Bali, with people depicted as extremely vulnerable to the spirit and power of nature.

Keliki Style
Keliki art is very similar to the old Batuan style with the one exception being size; Keliki painting measure 20cm by 15cm. They contain scenes of mythical and Ramayanic Characters engaged in battle, good versus evil, on sinister backgrounds. Keliki artist also follow the tradition of the old wayang artist in that they seldom sign their work.

Pengosekan Style
From this village, on the outskirts of Ubud, a new style sprang up during the 60s that concentrated on just a few natural components like; birds, insect, butterflies and plants. These paintings tend to be more realistic and less expressive than the Ubud style. The Famous artists are; I Dewa Nyoman Batuan and I Ketut Rudi

Young Artists
A second movement is born of European influence, Occurred in the early 60s, with the arrival of Arie Smith to the village of Penestanan. With his encouragement the artist in that area started exploring the use of vivid colors and more abstract, simple forms. The paintings in this style are much more expressionist, with little attention to detail or perspective. Among the better known of the Young Artist are I Wayan Pugur, I Ketut Tagen, I Nyoman Londo and I Ketut Soki. (Edited From Bali Plus Complimentary Dec'1999)

Academic Style
Entirely different from the other uniquely Balinese styles is the academic style which is done by some Balinese painters, other Indonesian painters living in or frequently visiting Bali and by foreign artist residing in Bali. The academic painters have received formal training in art and their style reflects this training in theory and technique and, generally, the influence of western style of painting. The painting includes a wide variety of style; realistic, expressionistic, decorative, semi-abstract, abstract and some highly individualistic. Academic paintings are done in oil, water colors and acrylic. Some of the well known Balinese academic painters are Putu Ngurah Wardhana, Nyoman Tusan, Kay It, Nyoman Gunarsa, Anak Agung Rai Kalam, Wayan Hardja and Others. Other Indonesian academic painters who live in Bali or who works are available here (and whose themes are mostly Balinese) included: Abdul Azis, Dullah, Affandi, Sujoyono, Kartika, Misran, Anton, Brato, Doho Widayat, Moerdowo, Srihadi, Jeihan, Widjaja, Santoso, Jaya, Lukminto, Hendra, Huang Fong, Tju Ing, Sao Pao, Kok Pao, Maria Tjui, Moses and Others.Several well known foreign academic painters live in Bali or have lived in the past. These include the previously mentioned Water Spies ( whose painting are no longer available in Bali), Rudolf Bonnet and additionally Antonio Blanco (Ubud), Hans Snel (Ubud), Donald Friend (Sanur) and Theo Meier ( Now Living in Thailand); Two painters who previously lived in Bali but whose paintings are not now easily available are Sonega and Hofker. (Edited from English for tour guide by Drs. I Nyoman Urbanus page 53-54)