Painter from Kedewatan, Gianyar

Painting for I Wayan Surim is a singularly pleasurable job. Through painting, he expresses all inspirations into the canvas medium. Many people can enjoy its outcome. Except for satisfaction, painting also once in a while makes him unhappy. “When I fail to express all feelings in my mind, I feel regretful. It means the image that comes into my mind does not accord with my expectation,” he explains while laughing.

I Wayan Surim who was born on 31 December 1955 has favoured any activities related to arts since his childhood. Originally, when he was at secondary school, he learned to paint in young artist style that was deeply involved by many people then at Panestanan, Ubud. Afterwards, he learned to paint in traditional style of Ubud that had decorative motif. Without facing significant obstacles and in relatively short period, he has been capable of painting well. His paintings were sold at art shops downtown Ubud.
According to Surim, the money he got by selling those paintings were used to pay the tuition fees and helped his parents to build a house. Observing the success of Surim, his father who was fond of betting on cockfight ultimately discontinued that disadvantageous hobby. Such a milestone drove him to being deeply involved in painting. Then, he continued his study to Indonesian Fine Arts School (SSRI) in Ubud by taking traditional arts section.
When studying at SSRI, Surim was progressively becoming productive. From his talented hand ran newly works that later sold to several art shops in Ubud. Having graduated from SSRI, he continued to Teacher’s Training for Secondary School (PGSLP) at drawing section. And after graduating from here, he became a teacher at State Secondary School of Payangan, Gianyar.
There, he taught not for so long because he should attend an education for Assistant Instructor in Yogyakarta. After he completing study there, he was appointed permanent instructor at Centre for Vocational Training (BLK) Denpasar at various handicraft section up to these days.
Wayan Surim who married to Martina Sumariyati admits that since the tragedy of Bali bomb his life that is involved in art undertakes a little difficult situation. Formerly, there were so many guests who bought his paintings. Today, it drops and guests rarely come. “On account of the bomb blast, the number of tourist visit drastically drops,” he says unhappily.
According to the father of three sons, he feels that his life is getting harder. Prices of goods are progressively high, while his earnings remain the same as that of previous months. Often, he feels downhearted due to current situation, chiefly when his mood of painting comes. No more money to buy the materials of painting and their price is so costly, too.
During his career as a painter, Wayan Surim has had several exhibition, either solo or in-group. Amongst them are jointly exhibition at Ratna Warta Museum (Ubud); Bali Museum (Denpasar); Taman Budaya Art Center (Denpasar); Sunari Art Gallery (Ubud); duet exhibition at Munut Gallery (Ubud) and solo exhibition in Jakarta. (BTN/Gung Man)

Bali Biennale 2005

By taking Space and Space as the central theme, in the end the Bali Biennale 2005 activity was officially inaugurated at ARMA Museum, Pengosekan, Ubud on Saturday (26/11). Such bi-annually art activity then developed ‘space and space’ into 8 sub-themes as follows:

1. Pilgrimage: Exploration towards creativity relationship of foreign artists to the cosmos of Bali.
   
2. Voyage: Putting forward interaction of archipelagic artists who do process in the geocultural domain of Bali.
   
3. Echo: Transformation of traditional culture of which echoes tease or even amaze the prosperity of established traditional culture.
   
4. Embodiment: Iconographical embodiment. Reflecting traditional iconographical transformation in modern techniques and concept.
   
5. Déjà vu: Representation of the works that have covered new domain, universal themes and put forward understanding and awareness of contemporary issues in line with the vagueness of earlier traditional footprints.
   
6. Discourse: Representation of works that are created in multicultural atmosphere.
   
7. Exploration: Putting forward sculpturing works in various thematic, ranging from Hindu legend to urban problematic.
   
8. Edifice: Experimental construction, namely newly exploration and construction beyond the conventional streamline up to the arts that reject academic labels and call themselves happening or object arts.

Considering that Bali Biennale is expected to become an art occurrence that can stimulate and drive the creativity and continuity of fine arts domain, so in this activity will be extended rewards to artists who have shown their highly creativity and dedication in the form of cash amounting to IDR 25,000,000. Rewards are divided into two categories, namely Astra Otoparts Art Awards to four artists who are still active and another reward to posthumous ones.
The exhibition takes place at ARMA Museum, Danes Art Veranda, Darga Gallery, Gaya Art Fusion Space, Komaneka, Puri Lukisan Museum, Neka Art Museum, Nyoman Gunarsa Museum, Sika Art Gallery and Tony Raka Gallery. (BTN/Gung Man)

Painting Exhibition of Bali Travel News

Located at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, starting from 4 December 2005 to 4 January 2006 occurred a painting exhibition of painters who were coalesced into Bali Travel News Gallery. This exhibition was associated with the seventh anniversary of Bali Travel News tourism tabloid. This exhibition presented eight painters namely Wayan Beratha Yasa, Made Karang, Wayan Surim, Mangku Wayan Candra, Gung Man, Ketut Kasib, I Nyoman Suyasa, IGAG Kepakisan.
(BTN/Gung Man)