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Why the arts
and crafts of Bali
are special
On a per capita basis, Bali probably has the
most accomplished artists & craftsmen in the
world. To the Balinese, personal artistic
achievement is part of the religious experience.
Note: View the map on my Bali
home page to locate villages and other destinations.
Painting
of Bali
 For centuries the international art
world paid little heed to the talented Balinese
painters, who focused on traditional motifs geared
for Bali's temples and religious ceremonies.
Then, in the
late 1920s several expatriate European artists
(including the now renowned Walter Spies and Rudolf
Bonnet) successfully taught and encouraged
some Balinese artists to become more modern and
daring by capturing scenes of everyday Bali life and
landscapes. Today, this work is globally
recognized as fine art.
Bali's
painting capital is Ubud village, followed by the villages of Batuan and Samasan. The first is more eclectic and
contemporary in style while the
latter two specialize in Bali's traditional
Wayan style.
The
best way to introduce yourself to Balinese
paintings is by visiting the Neka Museum and other
leading art institutions (click the "top
runners-up" button for their capsule
descriptions).
Wood sculptures
of Bali
Mas village is
clearly Bali's wood carving center.
Its
artists create refined Balinese sculptures depicting
Hindu-epic Ramayana characters, ordinary people
and various animals (the Njana Tilem Gallery is generally regarded as Bali's finest artistic producer).
Mas is also
unrivaled in carving the colorful Balinese wood masks (see
photo) worn by classical dancers.
Stone sculptures
of Bali
Batubulan village is Bali's
stone-carving heart.
Most works are of deities and
other Balinese temple themed objects.
Many artisans also cater to
tourists by sculpting everyday Balinese subjects, real and whimsical.
Gold & silver
jewelry of Bali
Celuk village (near Batubulan) is Bali's gold- and
silver-smithing epicenter.
Intricate earrings,
necklaces, bracelets and broaches are popular items with Bali tourists.
Batiks from
Java and Bali
A batik is a fabric richly decorated using a special dying technique.
Many are used as sarongs.
Although
virtually all the "Bali batik sarongs" sold to the tourists and Balinese are made in Java, Bali
does produce in small quantities some exceptionally fine hand-made batiks,
including the rare double itak from the walled village of
Tenganan (near Candi Dasa). A single cloth can take years to finish.
Other arts &
crafts of Bali
Balinese design and construct colorful kites
in unusual forms such as mythical birds and
four-masted ships (yes, they fly). Some Balinese kites
are as big and wide as a car.
Other
Balinese artistic endeavors include the making of
ceramics, furniture and shadow puppets.
Observing the
Balinese artists
and craftsmen
Many studios, galleries and factories openly
invite tourists to view their Balinese artisans in action
-- and to browse the displayed finished goods with
no obligation to buy.
Click these buttons to
learn why the top ten Bali
attractions are popular
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