Surrealistic Paintings of Ketut Budiana

Ketut Budiana is a figure of Balinese versatile artist. This man was born in Padang Tegal, Ubud (1950) and has been occupied in painting from an early age, which was much influenced by his surroundings, where his grandfather was undagi (Balinese traditional architect) whilst his father was a Balinese traditional artist as well.

Young Ketut Budiana often imitates what his parent did. When he grows up, he helps them, starting from making traditional constructions, making wadah (Balinese coffin) for ngaben ceremony, or making barong. “I learn many things from there,” he said to Bali Travel News.
In 1970, he began his serious intention in painting. His great talent made the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet take notice and become his mentor. Bonnet is the founder of Pita Maha painter group in Ubud (1940), the other founders are Cok Sukawati and Walter Spies.
This Pita Maha Group produced the modern Balinese painters in that era such as Ida Bagus Made Poleng, Anak Agung Gede Sobrat, I Gusti Ketut Kobot, Dewa Nyoman Leper and many other famous names.
Formally, Ketut Budiana’s lessons in fine art departed from Sekolah Seni Rupa Indonesia (SSRI) – Indonesian Fine Art School – then he continued his study to Sekolah Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Lanjutan Pertama (PGSLP) in painting department at Singaraja. After graduating, he became the teacher at Sekolah Menengah Seni Rupa (SMSR) Ubud and Denpasar (now SMK 1 Batubulan, Gianyar ).
Besides teaching, he is also an active social person. He is noted as chairman of Ratna Warta Artist Association, which is the painter association in Ubud, managed by Puri Lukisan Museum, Ubud.
Budiana’s painting is in the surrealism style, shaped in long contours, melting, bending with black and white as the dominant color. It is very unique, fantastic and never exists in the real world. He said that those contours are of certain symbols with meanings, which he can justify.
Ketut Budiana’s paintings are definitely attractive but hard to understand, what exactly is the meaning of these paintings. Why? because, his painting presents certain things from the unreal world (niskala).
As a teacher, Budiana is a famed painter, sangging and dancer. He is often involved in temple construction, material making in ngaben ceremonies such as wadah and lembu.
As a painter, he is often held for solo or group exhibitions in local or foreign countries, like Japan, Europe, America and Australia, where he not only presents his works, but also other arts activities. For that, he gains much experience during the abroad exhibitions. “For sure, the people abroad are respectful to arts,” he said while smiling.(BTN/Gung Man)

Fine Art Exhibition and Artists Criticism

It can’t be denied that fine art exhibitions in the Bali Art Festival (BAF) over the years had absorbed many enthusiasts, whether artists or art admirers. This is surely a remarkable phenomena which between art perpetrators and enthusiasts possessing equal passion.

The enjoyer gains opportunities to watch various paintings and styles at no charge. Meanwhile, the artist have a chance to store their works with no fee. Thus, fine art exhibitions at the Bali Art Festival should display the best masterpiece painters from all Bali and also the artistic work from outside, or foreign painters.
On other side, fine art exhibitions at the Bali Art Festival is always floodlighted negatively. Why? During the years, the committee is always excused with lack and hasty preparation, so the result is an unexpected performance.
Yes, it’s correct. Fine art exhibitions at the Bali Art Festival applied irregular selection patterns. Committees send invitations to several ‘detected’ art communities and their painter ‘friends’. Then, those invitations are broadly spread mouth to mouth, from one painter to another. So, the artists who ‘compete’ inside the exhibition are mostly the same people over the years, because there are no fixed selections.
It is about time that fine art exhibitions at the Bali Art Festival should seriously be taken care, so the exhibitors never feel proud that they exist within the exhibition at the Bali Art Festival. If necessary, try to create this event as competition level among the painters in any level, so each displayed painting will posses responsible quality.
To reach that noble purpose, a bright penetration is certainly needed how to select the exhibitor to gain certifiable paintings. For example, if necessary, give kind of wild card to some famed painters like Nyoman Gunarsa, Wianta, Erawan, Made Budhiana, Djirna, Wiradana, Mangu Putra, Marsa, Supena, Sani and other famous names.
Next, committee must invite a few young painters with remarkable talent. For the proper comparison, we can see their achievements as nominees or winners in national or international painting contests. So, their artistic works can competently be displayed within the exhibition.
The last way is sending the invitations to art communities in Bali, for example to the art studios and fine art institutions in Bali. This approach expected will spread from mouth to mouth which can make the information larger. The paintings examined in this term should pass the selection step.
If all those terms are approached, the committee should have complete data about the painter in Bali together with their achievements. Thus, the committee should be formed before the Bali Art Festival opening precession.(BTN/Gung Man)