Balinese artists honored for contributions to culture

Balinese artists honored for contributions to culture

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Noted painter I Nyoman Gunarsa was among four Balinese artists
and cultural prime movers who received awards from President
Megawati Soekarnoputri for their contribution to the development
of national culture.

State Minister for Cultural and Tourism Affairs I Gde Ardika
conferred the Satya Lencana medals on Friday to Gunarsa and
cultural figure Anak Agung Made Jelantik and posthumously to
scholar I Gusti Ngurah Bagus and I Gede Manik, a traditional
musician and dancer.

The awards were presented in a ceremony at Bali's Wisma Sabha
hall in the compound of the gubernatorial office, attended by
Governor Dewa Beratha and the provincial legislature speaker Ida
Bagus Wesnawa, Antara reported.

Ardika said the four were feted for their dedication and
persistent effort to preserve Balinese art and culture and the
national culture in general.

He said cultural development and preservation played a pivotal
role in striving for national unity and civilization.

Noted painter Gunarsa said the award would motivate him to tap
into his talent further and improve his creativity.

"The award is not the peak of my career and will not prompt me
to slow down," Gunarsa said after receiving the medal.

The 44-year-old painter had earlier received the Dharma Kusuma
award, the highest award for art and culture given by the Bali
administration.

Gunarsa, a former lecturer at the Indonesian Art Institute in
Yogyakarta, collects Balinese classic paintings in his museum in
Klungkung, some 45 kilometers east of Denpasar.

He made his international reputation through a number of
exhibitions across the globe, which have been regarded as
successful.

Observers hailed Gunarsa for his prowess in exploiting colors
and symbols to reflect beauty and peace in his paintings.