Category: Bali Art

Igniting Balinese cultural memory via Afghan Box Camera images

by Richard Horstman

Black and white photographs are making a resurgence within the ocean of Bali imagery circulating in cyberspace. Compelling pictures of yesteryear, describing the people and landscape, ignite nostalgia. Foreigners often yearn for ‘real Bali’, the pre-colonial era when the island was without modern influences. There is, however, a growing sentiment within the Balinese seeking change … Continue reading Igniting Balinese cultural memory via Afghan Box Camera images

English painter Bruce Sherratt: tropical surrealism & the power of the subconscious mind

by Richard Horstman

‘The Sacrament’, 2017 Bruce Sherratt. Pigment, cloth and oil on canvas. 300 x 200 cm Art, like the universe, is infinite. The perception and the processes of art-making may be as unique as the individual. Art ignites our senses as we interact with our inner and outer worlds. Nature’s power and beauty inform us through … Continue reading English painter Bruce Sherratt: tropical surrealism & the power of the subconscious mind

Emerging women artists on Bali

by Richard Horstman

‘Fantasy World of Mine’ 2021 – Dayu Sartika. Watercolour on paper. Bali’s distinct feminine energy is one of the foundations of the sacred and extraordinarily artistic traditional culture. Internationally revered for its potent and abundant lifeforce, a new generation of female Balinese and Indonesian creatives thrives on the island, increasingly independent and career orientated. Through … Continue reading Emerging women artists on Bali

La Salaga: a legend of two cultures immortalized in the Balinese Kamasan painting style

by Richard Horstman

‘La Salaga’ 2021 – by Balinese Kamasan master painter Made Sesangka Image Richard Horstman The La Salaga legend from West Sulawesi is an epic that rivals the fantastic Hindu tales from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. This distinct tale merging a new Islamic religious culture of Sulawesi with the Hindu’s of south Bali is, unfortunately, … Continue reading La Salaga: a legend of two cultures immortalized in the Balinese Kamasan painting style

Jean-Philippe Haure’s eternal quest for beauty

by Richard Horstman

Unless You Know Another Way 2021 – Jean-Philippe Haure. 42 x 30.7 inches. Gouache, mixed media, gold leaf, on paper laid on canvas. A timeless artwork radiates undeniable excellence, along with a mysterious potency. It has a unique freshness embodied within it that is enduring, and it remains as vibrant as the day it was … Continue reading Jean-Philippe Haure’s eternal quest for beauty

Rio Saren parts with convention to forge fresh directions in Balinese painting

by Richard Horstman

‘Menata potongan kertas/Arranging paper cuttings’ 2021 – Rio Saren, mixed media on canvas, 190 x 250 cm. Artists are distinguished by their observation and awareness of the human experience and their ability to transform inspiration into engaging creative forms. During the past two decades, Rio Saren has experimented obsessively with colour, items and form, striving … Continue reading Rio Saren parts with convention to forge fresh directions in Balinese painting

Digitizing Balinese Iconography into the 21st-Century

by Richard Horstman

‘Balinese Demon’ – commissioned design by HNS Studio The 21st-century digital creative economy is the catalyst and thriving platform to propel Balinese creatives into new and growing local and international markets. Technology and the Internet empower emerging artists, pushing their cultural iconography to fresh heights. New domestic and foreign audiences are embracing it. The Balinese … Continue reading Digitizing Balinese Iconography into the 21st-Century

Swoofone: a glimpse into the future of contemporary Balinese art

by Richard Horstman

‘The Book of Infinite Knowledge’ 2020 – Swoofone Mixed media on wood. 120 x 175cm. ‘The Island of the Gods’ is an incomparable sensuous experience. Mysterious and captivating, our perception encounters fascinating visual and non-visible layers. Bali’s thriving artistic landscape increasingly contributes an aesthetically potent and relevant dimension. One young artist has recently impacted the … Continue reading Swoofone: a glimpse into the future of contemporary Balinese art

Cakravala: a new Indonesian cultural portal with vast horizons

by Richard Horstman

I am fascinated by the evolution of creativity within contemporary culture. We are living in exciting times and the pandemic has accelerated our human potential. I believe the artists and creatives lead the way. Their imagination, activities and questioning introduce society to new, functional experiential forms and technologies manifesting in a better world – a … Continue reading Cakravala: a new Indonesian cultural portal with vast horizons

Contemporary Balinese artist Made Valasara’s questioning & exploration of material potential

by Richard Horstman

One of the most enjoyable aspects of observing the Bali art scene is witnessing young artists’ creative development. To grow, emerging artists must take risks and experiment. Some willingly embrace change, others less so. An artist’s career is about the journey, not the destination. There is no substitute for dedication, honesty and hard work. Contemporary … Continue reading Contemporary Balinese artist Made Valasara’s questioning & exploration of material potential