I Nyoman Wirata mixes poems and paintings

Tri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Denpasar

Starting from a line and a word, artist I Nyoman Wirata created numerous poems and paintings, all portraying social injustice, poverty and oppression of the underprivileged.

Wirata, a junior high school teacher, plunged into the Balinese arts world in the middle of the 1970s and is now among the island's most respected painters and writers.

Born in Banjar Titih, Denpasar, little Wirata was already familiar with paint and canvasses. His father, I Made Dratha, is a famous traditional painter, dancer, sculptor and literary figure.

"It was my dream to study at a fine arts school, but my father did not support me," Wirata said.

His father told him that being an artist was not profession. "It was just a social obligation. It could not guarantee a good and prosperous life especially for a young man like me," said Wirata.

But, Wirata did not give up. He insisted on pursuing his arts education. He promised his parents that arts was in his blood and studying arts was his long-time dream. His parents finally allowed him to enroll at the school.

Unfortunately, Wirata could not continue his arts education at a higher arts institution as his beloved father contracted cancer. Wirata had to quit school and start his career as an amateur painter and a writer.

"At that time, I was very confused and uncertain. When I worked on my canvas, my mind roamed words after words creating lines of poems," recalled Wirata.

In later years, Wirata let his wildest dreams of combining painting and poems channeled through his sketches, drawings and paintings.

Most of Wirata's works are minimalist in terms of color and form. He emphasizes black and white colors to create spiritual beauty and power. The colors also reflect his gloomy childhood period and his own strength to survive.

"I was always mesmerized when viewing Balinese traditional paintings of the old Batuan style. The black and white colors that dominate most of the Batuan paintings became the central power which exposed their magical power," commented Wirata.

He said the black and white colors created a sense or brightness and darkness, a world of contrast.

During his exhibition at the Paros Gallery, which ends on July 9, Wirata is displaying 33 works, all of which have poetic titles.

Among Wirata's best works are Yang Terluka (The Wounded, 2001), Meditasi Luka (The Wounded Meditation, 1997), Cahaya Dari Atas Bukit (Rays from Above the Hill, l999), Buddha, Bulan dan Ikan Itu (The Buddha, Moon and That Fish, l997).

The title of the exhibition, Silaturahmi Garis and Kata (Mixture of Lines and Words), expresses his ongoing search for life.

"I am trying hard to harmoniously combine lines as elements of fine arts and words as literary elements into a unity. We have to unite diverse cultural, religious and social backgrounds to create a beautiful life," said Wirata.