IB Made Nadera : The Traditional Painter

This painter was born in 1910 in Tegal Linggah village, Ubud. His formal education was at elementary school. But all of his attention was dedicated to painting. With self-study efforts, he started to draw paintings with his own traditional style.

Following the days in making the paintings he met two foreigners who had experience in painting and give him a lead to follow. Those people were Rudolf Bonnet and Walter Spies. Because of those people’s influence he changed his painting style from classic to modern style from 1933. Continuously his paintings seem to have been influenced by Walter Spies. Because his cultural background is Balinese, he automatically had a wide experience about it and that is why almost all of his painting take the Balinese theme.
Besides painting, Nadera also practiced the mask dance (Tari Topeng) and played his role in the Arja festival (Balinese opera). In 1932 until 1940 Nadera also took part as Pitamaha Artist Group member. After World War II, Nadera continued his love of art by joining the group of Ubud artists in Campuhan village. After his nomad life, he finally stayed at Sema Baung village in Gianyar regency. There he spends all of his time painting and sometimes in his spare time, he performs as a traditional puppeteer.

Suteja Neka
Direktur of Dharma Seni Art Foundation which manages the Neka Art Museum, Ubud-Bali

Ketut Kasib
Abstract Painter from Gerana Village

Many Balinese community members maintain the profession of painters. Some of them are painters of a certain trend such as of traditional and modern. The modern trend includes amongst others naturalism, realism, impressionism and abstract. It is interesting to see that most people like realist and naturalist paintings because of the simplicity in enjoying them.

More over, paintings of abstract, impressionist and the like have their own admirers, though this is more often for those with a good understanding of the art of painting.
Many traditional painters also have other professions, such as farming or construction work. The crossing to other professions opened up the opportunity for a new genre of younger painters following modern trends such as that of abstractive expressionism.  
In my view, Balinese artists have moved towards the abstract trend possibly because of satiety by naturalists or due to the existence of a few people who seemingly failed in utilizing naturalist or realist style of painting. Nevertheless, many of them have had great and strong talents affecting their works.
 I Ketut Kasib is a superbly talented painter, born in Grana a village located north of Sangeh, the monkey colony in Badung Regency. Many overseas collectors have hunted for his paintings. The painter, studied the art of painting at the department of “IKIP” Teachers College managed by “PGRI” Union of Indonesian Teachers. He claims he is not so talented in naturalistic painting. Consequently, he remains busy in applying an abstract style of painting.  
Kasib, who is a painting, English, and Balinese language teacher in Desa Petang’s SMP state owned Junior High School, has really succeeded in materializing his works of abstract style. This means he has been successful in applying the composition of lines, colours, and themes. Wayan Sika, a senior painter and owner of a gallery in Ubud, has also recognized Kasib’s fine works.  
Ketut Kasib, together with his seven colleagues associated in North Badung’s BARA (Badung Utara), staged a painting exhibition from 25 January until 7 February 2003 in Denpasar’s Art Center “Kriya House”. (Yan Beryas)