Drs I Nyoman Lodra, MSi
An All Round Artist from Silakarang

Tourism development constitutes one of the motivators of change acceleration in the life order of social, cultural, political and economy of the Balinese society. Everybody is finally expected to do and think more modernly and faster, if he does not want to be run over and left behind.

This is completely realized by I Nyoman Lodra (42) who was born at Silakarang Village, sub district of Singapadu, Gianyar Regency, Bali. He is an alumnus of painting at the department at Fine Arts and Design Studies (PSSRD) at Udayana University, earns his living from the expertise of sculpturing. Since his study at Elementary School, his instinct in art and business has been sharpened. At that time, his after school time was used for selling fried bananas. The money, besides helping his mother, he used to fulfill his school needs.
A child of the late I Made Otar and Ni Made Rumping, he is known in his village as a boy who is persevering and diligent. His surrounding environment influences his expertise at sculpturing and making statues. His village was famous as the center of sculpture and statue making whose sculptures are beautiful and detailed.
After graduating Nyoman Lodra joined IKIP Negeri (State Teacher’s Training College) Surabaya (East Java) as a lecturer in fine arts. At that time, he received many orders to make interior and exterior designs for government buildings in Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung and Malang. In addition, he made designs of small souvenirs. The rising competition due to development of tourism in Bali does not make him pessimistic. He keeps on going forward as it does not make sense. “For me, to be a designer I should become outgoing, adaptive, creative and informative person,” he said enthusiastically. In addition, in the business competition in this era of globalization, according to Nyoman Lodra, the winner is the product that has uniqueness, characteristic of certain community (tradition) and universal values.
The aftermath of the Kuta Bomb blast, completely hit the economy of Bali especially, causing many job losses. Recently, this situation raised the number of unemployed, due to many hotels and travel agents suffering financial losses. For Nyoman Lodra, this occurrence constitutes a reminder of God that makes us remember and believe in the greatness of God’s power. He extremely realizes as well that life is a bounty. So, we should express out gratitude to God and fill it with positive and useful activity for
many people.
With the foothold of experience he got during his postgraduate program in cultural studies at Udayana University, he was recently appointed to be Coordinator of Design Center Unit at PT Suarti. Suarti is a name of a company that provides metal works design, like gold and silver. For Nyoman Lodra who is also an abstract-figurative painter, working at PT Suarti is very enjoyable. “All works here are done professionally,” he said when he was visited at his studio at Ubud. Whilst working with this company, he has created some designs of accessories. The designs that finally visualized and produced, previously has
passed through some sufficiently long and complicated stages. Commencing with cultural studies of some ethnics in Indonesia will inspire his works later. Furthermore, based on the data collected, the design team will make its design. According to Nyoman Lodra, some of his designs can be looked at the silver works with the concept: Sarasvati, the Spirit of Yogya’s Batik, and Spirit of Solo’s Mask. His last design was presented at Bali Fashion Week IV, applied the concept of Equator Weaving. (BTN/Gung Man)

Mohammed: Building Gallery Relations

Being successful with the solo painting exhibition in September 2003 at Resor Seminyak, young painter Mohammed presents again his works at an exhibition. But at the exhibition this time, he joins with 7 painters from Banyuwangi displaying 49 paintings of their works of different schools. Nearly all painters expose panorama and tourist objects in Bali as the background of their works. The painters are Supriyadi, Joni K. Saloon, Mohammed, H. Mozes Misdy, Huang Fong and the couple Bambang Raharjo and Tiena Ningsih.
When we visited the exhibition, the natural-decorative painter recounted very much about the history of his works along with other painters in building image as professional painters, until how a painter makes a partnership with a gallery so that their works become popular at home and abroad.
He also emphasized that the value of a painting could not be measured in terms of its price, but mostly depended on the appreciation and total comprehension of a person on the work of art,” he clarified.
“A painter is called a maestro of painting if agrees some standard criteria of quality and quantity aspects and public recognition at home and abroad. It’s not enough, there are myriad criteria that should be possessed by a painter to get the title,” he said. “Holding such a maestro title requires hard work and consistency in his field,” said Mohammed who won awards for his works at home and abroad.
Additionally, the man who was born in Jakarta mentioned some basic criteria that should be possessed by a painter so that he’s worth holding the title. Loyalty and consistency in painting and revering the profession constitute one of the requirements. But it’s no less important of the number of paintings displayed at the museum at home and abroad. The capability of painter in finding out his identity through his work of art is an important thing. Creating a new school and technique in painting constitute a basic element for a painter. “Public will appreciate and the history will automatically determine the feasibly to obtain the title of maestro. So, it isn’t engineered,” he clarified.
The journey of his career as a painter certainly passed through with many obstacles. But it did not weaken his spirit to keep on working. Hopefully, I could find the path of my life through this profession, he expected.
To make such a dream comes true is hard, but he works seriously in his profession and does the best for the nation with his sketches on canvas.

Building Relations to Gallery
The painter who has lived in Ubud for 20 years said that building harmonious relationships with galleries constitutes a must for a painter. Other than being creative and working, maintaining harmonious relations is one of the keys to success. Because starting from the gallery most painters become popular, not only in terms of their works of art, but also being financially established, said the painter who often holds painting exhibitions abroad. The price of his paintings varies depending on its style and size. But my paintings were often sold at the average price of 3-5 thousands dollars, he added.
Gallery and Painter were just like archer’s bow and arrow. Both must give mutual benefit. For that reason, he ask’s painters to always built harmonious relations with the gallery’s owners, so the paintings can be collected and displayed in their gallery, he appealed.
He mentioned the name of galleries that had supported him in promoting his works of art like Arma gallery, Rudana gallery and Neka Museum that belongs to Suteja Neka. These institutions have rendered a service in promoting the painters of Bali both nationally and
abroad. “They should be awarded an appreciation as they promoted these artists of Bali,” he stated firmly.(BTN/013)

Exhibition of Ten Painters of “Bali Travel News”

To enliven the fifth anniversary of the tourism tabloid Bali Travel News, ten painters of Bali hold an exhibition at the Art Center “Taman Budaya” Denpasar. The exhibition will take place on 4-10 December 2003. The painters are I Gusti Nyoman Widnyana (Gung Man), Wayan Beratha Yasa, Ida Bagus Lolec, Ida Bagus Indrakusuma, Wayan Sumantra, I Gusti Nengah Sura Ardana, I Made Karang, Wayan Tunas, Gede Wiryawan and Nyoman Wirata.

Various styles of painting will be displayed at the exhibition, in which generally will describe Bali from their own perspectives. Like Gung Man, will shoot Bali in terms of its beauty, nature and architecture, so will Made Karang, Wayan Tunas, and Wayan Sumantra. In the meantime, other painters will expose their imagination that is visualized in the paintings of a different characteristic.
In daily life, the painters mostly have different professions from painting. For example, Ida Bagus Lolec is Managing Director of Pacific World that works in the tourism field. Nyoman Wirata is a teacher of art at SMP Negeri 5 Denpasar; Wayan Sumantra, Sura Ardana and Gung Man are lecturers of fine arts. While Gede Wiryawan is a graphic designer at the daily newspaper Bali Post.
Such painting exhibitions are regularly held to commemorate the anniversary of Bali Travel News. Exhibition members constitute participants and contributors whose features have been written and published in Bali Travel News.
Painters who will be involved in this exhibition are those whose works have passed the selection. Additionally, their paces in the world of painting in Bali have been well recognized, as they have frequently exhibited their works, both individually and in-groups.
(Suteja Neka)
Director of Dharma Seni Art Foundation which manages the Neka Art Museum, Ubud-Bali