'Kompas' daily to exhibit Balinese arts

'Kompas' daily to exhibit Balinese arts

JAKARTA (JP): To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Kompas, the
country's largest newspaper, is organizing a painting exhibition
presenting works of 80 Ubud and Batuan artists.

The exhibition, which will be opened tonight (July 7) and will
last through July 17, is part of the daily's efforts to preserve
Indonesian culture.

G.M. Sudarta, executive director of the Bentara Budaya where
the exhibition is being held, said the local media should do
their utmost to help promote Indonesian artists.

"Coverage and review of art events are the least the media can
do to support artists' activities. However, there are so many
attempts to maximize support for the artists," added Sudarta.

Since l970, Kompas daily has been active in helping Balinese
artists in Ubud. The daily has been providing material assistance
such as canvas and other painting mediums to Ubud painters.

"Displaying their works in an exhibition also helps promote
their works," he maintained.

Traditional Ubud artists exhibiting their works include I
Wayan Djudjul, a pioneer Ubud artist, Ida Bagus Belawa, 85, to
younger artists such as I Ketut Ginarsa and I Wayan Suparta. The
Batuan artists are represented by I Made Jata, 85, I Dewa Nyoman
Tjita, 80, I Dewa Wayan Kandel, 80, and several young artists
including I Dewa Putu Arsania and female painter Ni Wayan Warti.

To understand the works, it is useful to know about the
development of Balinese painting which is roughly divided into
three categories -- classical, Ubud and Batuan styles.

Classical Style

Developed in the 17th century in Klungkung, the Kamasan style
is said to represent the classical Balinese style. It originally
functioned as decoration for religious ceremonies. The paintings
were hung in pavilions, on altars and shrines, and at temples. In
later years, the paintings were framed and served as household
adornments. The figures are typically painted in frontal position
with a somewhat extended shoulder line, the arms are elongated,
and the legs and feet are shown in three-quarter view.

Often there are several scenes of one story in a single
painting or a series of scenes on long strips of cloth. Themes
are mostly from the puppet theater repertoire showing episodes of
the Hindu Ramayana and Mahabharata epics as well as the 12th
century East Javanese Melat and Panji romances.

Functional paintings include palalintangan horoscopes and
palalindon which predict the influence of earthquakes on life.
These astrological charts are unique in that while the ruling
deities of the weeks are done in wayang style, the constellations
are usually depicted by scenes of daily life: people climbing
trees, fishing, quarreling, plowing, and a cremation, to name a
few.

Ubud Style

The development of Balinese paintings were not immune from
outside influences, particularly from the West. Since the early
20th century, a number of prominent western painters have lived
in Bali. German painter Walter Spies and Dutch artist Rudolf
Bonnet are among artists who have influenced local artists.

Both Spies and Bonnet introduced new painting styles and
materials to local artists. They also encouraged Balinese
painters to broaden the themes of their artistic works. To what
extent Spies and Bonnet influenced the development of Balinese
painting is still open to debate and will probably never be fully
answered.

The most apparent changes were in geometric and perspective
and anatomy, but indeed the Balinese artists interpreted the new
western concepts in their own unique ways. These Balinese
painters combined traditional and western concepts. These
developments have led to what is recognized today as the Ubud
painting style.

Unlike Ubud, the village of Batuan has long been recognized as
a center for Balinese traditional arts, from dancing to weaving
and carving. Paintings by Batuan artists have a different style
from that of Ubud artists. Prominent Batuan artists include I
Ngendon (l903-l942), I Patera (l900-l935), I Reneh (l910-l958),
Ida Bagus Togog (l913-l989).

Batuan works display an expressive and vibrant vitality and
are a close development of the classical style. Detailed features
and fine lines are painstakingly painted, with emphasis on a
shading technique called sigar mangsi, literally translating to
"ink fragments." Painting in the Batuan style requires
perseverance because of the complexities painted in small
dimensions. In general, dark green and maroon are used with a
dark background which gives a mysterious and somber appearance to
the work.

The themes used in these paintings are usually from the
Tantri, animal fables, legends, folk tales and daily life, all
with a touch of the supernatural throughout. In the latest
development, new themes based on tourism and important events are
also illustrated.

The exhibition will certainly enrich the Indonesian art world
as local and international art lovers will have the opportunity
to learn the development of Balinese art forms through the works
of these participating artists. It is expected that Kompas'
efforts to promote local artists will be followed by others in
the country. (raw)