Kamasan painting provide livelihood for local people

Tri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Klungkung, East Bali

Art and religion, for the Balinese, are inseparable from life. Painting, dance, music and decorative arts were previously created for religious purposes.

The local's sense of beauty and artistic flair is obvious -- great palaces with stone carvings or amazing paintings and temples adorned with sculptures of Hindu deities are scattered across the island.

A tremendous range of visual art styles flourish throughout Bali. Each area has its own distinctive style of painting or sculpture.

For example, Ubud is well known for the elaborate and refined Batuan and Pengosekan styles, with famous masters like Ketut Gelgel and I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. But, an analysis of Balinese painting will inevitably dwell on the Klungkung area -- once Bali's most prominent royal kingdom -- and believed to be the root of all Balinese painting styles.

Most Balinese painting styles have roots in the artistic tradition of the Javanese Hindu migrants who arrived at the island from Majapahit Kingdom in East Java between the 15th and 16th century. Many artisans, sculptors, as well as scholars, sought refugee in Bali when the great Hindu kingdom fell to Islamic power. Most are believed to have settled in Klungkung, some 75 kilometers east of Denpasar.

The arrival of artists in the village was at the time of the golden age of the Balinese royal kingdom of Dalem Waturenggong in Gelgel (Klungkung). The migrant artisans were often commissioned by the Balinese royal family.

King Waturenggong, asked artists to paint wayang (puppet) characters in styles heavily influenced by the art of Majapahit, most from the Hindu epic of Mahabharata and Ramayana .

Similar styles are evident in stone carvings found in East Javanese temples.

Later, the style evolved into the traditional painting of Bali -- as seen in panels and on the ceilings of royal houses, such as in Bale Kertagosa, the Hall of Justice building in Klungkung, East Bali. Here, the artist painted a wayang character. The King was astonished at the beauty of the painting. He later called the painter, Mahudara, the master painter.

The King later commissioned the artist to decorate temples, grand palaces and puri (palaces) throughout the island.

Mahudara was later declared to be the pioneer of the Kamasan painting style, which has survived for more than 400 years.

His predecessors preserved and developed the two-dimensional Wayang painting and the Kamasan village is known as the last stronghold of this style. Many people in the village devote their lives to nurturing the tradition.

In Banjar the customary village of Sanging, for instance, a lot of people work as traditional artists.

However, there has been a significant shift in the concept of art here. In the past, Balinese artists created art out of a social or religious obligation -- often part of the construction of temples or palaces. Nowadays, artistic practices are viewed as more profane or commercial.

Many villagers simply see art as a way to make a living.

Take Ketut Danti, a native of Banjar Sanging. She admitted that many people in Banjar are now living solely from selling Kamasan style painting to visitors, mostly foreign tourists.

Ketut said she learned how to paint as a teenager by watching her parents and neighbors. Firstly, she learned how to mix colors and later, how to paint wayang figures and the backdrop of the paintings.

"There are some changes in the way people produce the paintings," the 50-year old Ketut lamented.

In the past, people used natural coloring materials and traditional processes. Instead of painting on canvas, artists painted on pieces of wood or wooden panels. "Now, we frequently use poster paint on canvas, or other media such as bamboo, coconut shells, textiles, even egg shells... and on fruits such as pumpkins," she said.

Local artists are influenced by the rapid changes in technology. The increasing demand for Balinese handicrafts, art works and accessories has pushed local artists to become more creative and to diversify their skills beyond painting.

Many banjar (community centers) in Kamasan village have been transformed into art centers. Scores of shops offer paintings, handicrafts and other souvenirs.

"In the past, we sold our products at popular tourist spots like Bedugul, Tanah Lot in Tabanan, Kuta and Sanur beaches and other places. Now, we have set up our own shops here in the village, because many visitors and their guides have realized that this is the place to buy quality Kamasan paintings, " said Ketut.