I Wayan Alit Anggawasta
Realism Symbolist Painter

In response to an event that is happening in their region, a number of young artists tends to express it through the symbolic paintings or other works of art. Certainly this depends on the unity of etiquette and aesthetic values. The symbols that are used by the each painter are certainly different, based on the educational level and understanding about what will be made.

The same is the case with I Wayan Alit Anggawasta (24 years old) or usually called Alit, he was noticed when still a student of Painting program, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Singaraja. All of his recent works uses the symbol of realism and the local symbols as a language expression in his works.
Actually since his childhood, he has been very interested in painting. But his artistic talent can be considered as a gift from the God. If we go through his family history there is no-one in his family with artistic talents. His interest in art attracted him to follow drawing subjects when he was in Elementary School.
According to Alit, painting subjects made him very happy. Drawing some objects in the drawing book was the only thing that made him happy. When he was in Junior High School, he had a disappointed start, because at his Junior High School there were no painting lessons. In order to pass on his aspiration of art, then he learned dancing and to play traditional music instruments.
For three years Alit was not related again with the art of painting. But it did not stop his willingness to stay in love with this subject, which has been an important part on his life. When he was graduated from Junior High School and continued his studies at Senior High School, he felt disappointed again. Actually in the Senior High School in his village there was no painting class as well. Because of his disappointment he finally decided to stop his study.
According to him, studying without drawing subjects is like the proverb "Vegetable without salt". "I don’t understand many schools in Bali as if thinking that painting subjects is not important," he said.
Actually his brother, who is working in Gianyar, observed the strange attitude of Alit. Than he persuaded Alit to come to Gianyar, to continue his study at Sekolah Seni Rupa (Fine Art School). In Gianyar, Alit preferred the follow the Modern Painting Arts program. Finally during his study in Gianyar, Alit was able to paint the Balinese traditional art because of his friend.
Actually, in the beginning Alit did not understand the fine art education. He just followed the education, because he was so much in love with painting.
When he saw that his friend received some money from his works, finally Alit became willing to try to paint seriously. Honestly in the beginning he felt it difficult, but at least he can do like what his friend does.
Alit is a younger child of six brothers. This man was born at Seloni Hamlet, Culik Village, Regency of Karangasem but now he lives in Singaraja and continues his study there. In Singaraja he makes a lot of paintings in social themes that are expressing social realism.
"I want to response the phenomenon that is happening in my life according to my view point," he said. Actually symbols that used are looking like tending to the traditional one, but it not makes his works very traditional. But his style actually makes his work very specific and with private style. (BTN/Gung Man)

I Nyoman Suriada
Release the Problem Through Painting

I Nyoman Suriada (22 years old), born at Baturiti Village, Kerambitan District, Tabanan Regency, is a young talented Balinese painter. Nowadays he is studying at Painting program, at the "Ganesha" University in Singaraja.

Although he said that he is not an off-spring of an artistic family, his art talent makes one doubt about that. Certainly this is connected with his painting hobby since he was on Elementary School. Painting Subject is his favorite one, so he will feel disappointed if his teacher didn’t teach this subject because of whatever reason.
Actually his talent did not miss the attention of his teacher. On many occasions, his teacher usually motivated him to learn more about painting. Finally the praise from his teacher made Suriada falling in love with painting. That love made him willing to become a great painter in the future.
But since his mother died when he was young, there was some suspicion about of his desire. He tried to forget his dream until his uncle, who is teaching at Singaraja, persuaded him to move to Singaraja. After graduated from Junior High School at Singaraja, Suriada continued his study at Sekolah Menengah Kerajinan Negeri I Singaraja (Vocational School). Because there were no Painting Classes at the school, he then decided to choose Wood Arts Subject.
Although the subject is not his desire, Suriada still enthusiastically followed the subject. Actually in the beginning he felt rather confused, because of the art medium of wood was new in his art world. So it was no wonder that once in a while he got bored with his study. Because of some advice of his uncle he changed this boredom into a happy one. Being serious in his art made him produce the good functional products made of wood. Some of his works like chairs from the trunk of coconut was exhibited on Bali Art Festival in Denpasar.
After graduating from SMKN, Suriada continued his study to Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Singaraja. In this university he felt that his desire to become a painter was coming back. At least he could start painting in his new school because Painting Subject was provided in this university. He commonly releases his problem through his artwork. His happiness is truly expressed in his paintings. His painting with a theme of social life of society is very serious. The realist surrealism style in most of his works looks very strong. He perfectly describes gloominess becoming a symbol the life of the lower class in the society generally. (BTN/Gung Man)

Impressions-Expressions
Nine Women of Different Milieus

Hundreds of paintings, taking various themes, are exhibited for three weeks at Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar. The paintings on show were made by nine women painters coalesced into the Bali International Women Association (BIWA). They constitute a group of painters originating in different milieus in nationality, language, socio-culture but produce unique and exceptional works of art.
The exhibition entitled ‘Impressions Expressions’ was inaugurated on Saturday (28/10) and takes place up to Saturday (18/11). The exhibition is open daily at office hours from 10.00—17.00 Local Time.
The coordinator of the exhibition, Yus Martini, said on the press conference that the works of art presented an average of the works made within the last six years. However, activities of BIWA in painting domain have started in 1996 where the BIWA itself was founded in 1974 with members consisting of 217 women from 23 countries. "Virtually, we do not intend to become a painter. This activity is just intended to pass on our hobby and kill the time by more positive activity," she says.
She explained that every participant submits 15 paintings made from watercolour on paper. The objects put into account vary greatly and they mostly adopt the allurement of nature such as flower, plant, animal and activity of Hindu community in Bali.
By and large, the participating painters learn to paint auto didactically based on their interaction as member of such non-profit organization. This one constitutes their first exhibition. Participants get involved in this exhibition are Jeni Smith (Australia), Kyoko Furukawa (Japan), Lily Trainer (Jakarta), Mala James (Lampung), Patricia Jamieson (Ireland), Rejane Dalabre (France), Verna Cameron (Australia), Woi-Ling Wen (Canada) and Yus Martini (Bali). (BTN/Budarsana)

An Entertainment and Appreciation Scene

Aside from offering various kinds of facilities like massage, reflexology, cycling tour, yoga, Bali night, cooking class, the Griya Santrian Hotel also has an art gallery. Other than as a form of entertainment, the guests receive the information of the painter’s development. Guests having great interest in paintings will be able to appreciate the works of art on show.
Couples of artists prefer to choose this gallery as a venue to hold their exhibition. It is not only intended for the arts of painting, but also silverworks, sculpture and mask of ogoh-ogoh or papier mâché demon. Griya Santrian is a starred hotel situated at Sanur beachside or some 7 km east from Denpasar and approximately 13 km from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Ms. Ni Luh Sri Joni, the Gallery Executive of Griya Santrian, says that the gallery extends new entertainment to tourists staying at hotel. Quite a lot of tourists purchase paintings to bring back to their home country. Through the activities of this gallery also collectors, from several big cities in Indonesia and even overseas, purchase such paintings in person.
Interestingly, the existence of the Griya Santrian Gallery offers a selection of guest activities and the in-house guests can enjoy them as well. Even, some tourists would like to get acquainted with the artists and then undertakes transaction, such as those from the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia. "Hopefully, it will become a mainstay product of our hotel," she utters.
Clarified, the Griya Santrian Gallery was originally intended to deliver an opportunity to the artists of Sanur in carrying out their art appreciation. Following its popularity spread out to other region, many artists intend to hold an exhibition here. It is therefore no surprise that the schedule of the exhibition calendar is fully booked until 2008.
This gallery was originally a vacant room that was intended to be used as a restaurant, but is now open as an arena of appreciation for the artists, particularly that of painting. In a later development, it attracted many artists from outside Bali to participate in the exhibitions here and even from overseas like Japan. The duration of teach exhibition may reach one or two months.
"The artists holding an exhibition at the Griya Santrian Gallery are exhibiting free of charge. Should there be any works sold, they merely give some percent from the selling price to the gallery," she adds. (BTN/015)

‘Space and Sense’ Shared by Four Painters

Human can not live in space. They call for other spaces in living their life. Human beings that mostly live in interaction bear a mission to fill in and give one another as well as maintain the sublime values of their life so they have an order in tracing back other spaces.
In exploring this huge space of life, human are at all times faced with two matters, namely bliss and misery. Every single room entered, human repeatedly perceives unparallel pleasure and bliss or on the way around faced with bitterness of life constricting the heart.
Such phenomena are revealed by four young painters domiciling in Yogyakarta in the fine arts exhibition entitled ‘Space and Sense’ at Sika Gallery - Ubud, last 7-13 October. The four painters are Puji Rahayu, Danny Stamp Ardhiyanto, I Nyoman Suyasa and Afdhal. They are alumnus and students of the Indonesian Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta.
In the exhibition, the four painters try to observe, analyze and discover the ‘space’ where they live along with its correlation with current societal life, particularly that straightforwardly associated with the matter of humane ‘sense’ that immensely has an impact on their life to be expressed into the works of art, whether they are pleasant or disagreeable experience. All are conveyed with their own sensitivity in compliance with the domain of art they deeply involved in.
Having observed their works, it is discernible that the four painters employed specific symbols that enable to be well apprehended by the painters themselves. Nevertheless, their works regularly draw every observer to examine, explore or develop their imagination into the ‘space and sense’ created by its painter.
For instance, a painting entitled ‘Heading for Timeless Realm’ by I Nyoman Suyasa implements surrealistic style. This painting tells about a funeral procession in ngaben cremation rite by demonstrating a coffin conveyed to cemetery by men in black cloth in sorrowful look where myriads of frangipani sprinkled over it accompanying a woman figure that flies to timeless realm. With the variation of tempting colours, as if this painting took us into dream world and reminded that every single human, sooner or later, will definitely leave this mundane world for the after world, the timeless realm.
So does the painting entitled: ‘The World Cut in Half’ by Puji Rahayu. In the very surrealistic style, this painting illustrates two different figures. They are young girls in red gown and passionate facial expression as well as expectation to step forward following an old man in faded appearance, as if he suffered from great misery. The two contrary figures highlighted by Rahayu in natural colour imply abounding in message drawing divergent interpretation on people observing it.
Additionally, there are more other interesting works to observe. However, whatever the meaning and objective to be expressed on every ‘space’ they paint, the four painter would like to take visitors to share the ‘sense’ on the meaning of life and concurrently throw the study bait to be discussed by those getting interested in them. (BTN/tar)