Wayan Gandera, Painter from Peliatan Village, Ubud

During its age, the Ubud painting style was famous as the modern art of Bali. It was developed by the painters Rudolf Bonnet and Walter Spies in Ubud, and supported by many Balinese traditional painters such as Sobrat, Kobot, Baret, Dewa Ketut Ding, Rungun and Anak Agung Gde Meregeg. The group of painters was popular by the name ‘Pita Maha’. Here, Rudolf Bonnet taught a modern painting technique, especially about anatomy, perspective and dark and light techniques.

During that time, the Pita Maha group was like a breath of fresh air, broadening the perceptions of painters in Bali. They began to have the courage to paint the activities of daily life such as rice harvesting, temple ceremonies and ploughing the fields. The figures and objects in the paintings were no longer in puppet shape, but showed a complete human anatomy. Previously, it was taboo for the painter to write their name on their paintings, but this also changed and artists began putting their names to their work. The most important thing was that they were able to live with painting as their profession.
The Ubud painting style entered its age of dignity when foreign tourists came to see Bali as a desirable destination. This inspired the people of Ubud to learn how to paint, so in a short time a lot of young talented painters suddenly appeared. They painted with the same style and theme, but were different in identity.
Through the era development, the Ubud painting style is not so much used by painters. The regeneration is not working well. This could be because the Pita Maha painting technique is complicated and time-consuming. Younger generations prefer to paint with in an expressionist or abstract way rather than using the Pita Maha technique.
Wayan Gandera is a painter from Peliatan who is keenly upholding his profession. Born in 1946 and the paints all of these traditional scenes realistically, so it may invite us just like in an ancient museum.
Wayan Gandera’s painting is carefully done, where description of the dark light using the ‘sigar mangsi’ technique (black shadow technique) is perfectly presented. He is also expert in painting tiny details in the shape of traditional material. His skill in painting Balinese traditional material was recognized by the Anthropology Museum, Murdoch University, Australia. He spent a few months on Kangaroo Island to paint the Balinese traditional scenes and later put his painting in the museum collection.
Wayan Gandera is the umpteenth generation of the Pita Maha painters. Ever enjoying the glorious era of Ubud painting style, which is getting descend recently, contrast with the previous condition that it ever become a modern painting style. What a pity, but he realized for the time exchange. Moreover, with the bomb-blast tragedy at Kuta, Iraq War, and SARS disease, the condition of Ubud’s painting art become hopeless. (Gung Man)