Painting of Sea

Sea, Lakes and mountains have a specific significance for the Balinese. The sea and mountains have often played the role of starting points in defining directions by locals. The direction pointing North is kaja for people living in South Bali, while direction towards mountain points out kaja (North).

The concept of direction orienting to sea and mountain radiates from the mouth of adherents living in North Bali and South Bali resulting in division’s of the island into two parts, the East - West mountainous range. People who live in south Bali recognize the same directions that are used all over the world. It’s possibly because from south Bali, the site or mountain position is at the north, and the sea is at the south. Balinese directed the north with kaja and south with klod. Whereas from the north side, the mountain position is at the south, so the northern people pointed kaja or north to the mountain direction, which means the south direction for southern people. Klod or south directed to the sea, means the north side for southern Bali people.
The sea also contains a deep meaning for ritual existence of Hindus in Bali. The sea is always plays a significant part of ritual ceremonies. Moreover, Hindus in Bali granted Hyang Baruna as the sea ruler, and the sea is beneficial for daily needs for fisherman and others.
For the painter, the sea becomes an interesting painting object, sometimes dreadfully illustrated, or illustrated as peaceful, calm, and beautiful. They seem never drained to put the sea as their paintings, for example, the sea with weaving coconut palms, sea with Balinese traditional boats, or the sea with fisherman’s activities. Several famous painters who lived in Bali often illustrated the sea on their canvas, such as Arie Smit, Nyoman Gunarsa, Donald Friend, Srihadi, Dewa Putu Mokoh, Affandi, Dewa Nyoman Jati, Gung Man, Made Budhiana, Mangu Putra, Theo Meier. (BTN/Gung Man)

Arie Smit Painting, Island Of Bali From The South

This view of Bali from far out at sea is how Arie imagines it to be, for he has not actually seen this from a boat. The large painting does not seem big enough to completely show the island of Bali, yet at the same time there is a feeling of great freedom and unlimited vision.
This work is two-dimensional, sky, land, and sea are one in their monochromatic tones. A few lines and contrast of light and dark separate the three realms. Both sea and sky are turbulent. The mountains of Bali , dominated by Gunung Agung , and the neighboring island of Nusa Penida appear to be floating on the surface of the water along with the tiny sailboats. The dark patch in the lower left corner gives stability to the work.
Arie used big brush-strokes for this impressionistic work. Each time the brush was filled with fresh paint, and the colours blended directly onto the canvas.
(Suteja Neka) Director of Dharma Seni Art Foundation which manages the Neka Art Museum, Ubud-Bali