Balinese Life

Legacy of arts:
Upholding the Roots, Controlling the Growth

A long tradition of art, rooted in the richness of local culture and inspired by Hinduism grows on an islet named Bali. Through the centuries it has received several external influences, both from other tribes across the archipelago and foreign contacts, in keeping with the passage of time. It is inseparable from the openness of Balinese people. Indeed, they are very welcoming to the outsiders or foreigners. More importantly though is that they preserve their identity.

Due to different capability of understanding, the Vedic teachings have been ‘strategically’ composed in different manners. Some are written in serious philosophical texts while others are expressed in mythological stories related to gods called purana. This ancient Hindu lore contains ethical and cosmological teachings relative to God, man and the world. Basically, they revolve around the subjects, like creation, genealogy, cycles of time and history. The most favorite example of this puranic narrative is the Ramayana and Mahabharata epic. Later, many inspirations of Balinese art originated in these themes.
Balinese people have also been known to be very religious. To express their faith and devotion to God, they not only take the path of prayers but also through artistic expression. It can be in the form of sculpture, carving or painting arts. Their temple, for instance, is richly embellished with ornate sacred effigies and reliefs. They portray the universe consisting of the life of flora and fauna living on the ground, in the water, in trees and also the forms that can fly to the heavenly realm. These are carved on the relief. They are intended to give religious nuance and call the mind of devotees to enter the spiritual sphere.
Meanwhile, Balinese people also inherit the opulent tradition of performing arts. Some of them are exclusively presented as complement of ritual activity in the form of sacred dance and gamelan orchestra. So, it’s not surprising that nearly every single customary village in Bali has one or more gamelan troupe. This also denotes another expression of devotion. Beyond the ritual need, they also develop their works of art that are intended for entertainment or commerce. However, they make a clear-cut distinction between the sacred and profane art.
A western artist, Walter Spies in collaboration with Wayan Limbak, has given great meritorious service by initiating the modern composition of kecak a cappella dance for entertainment. Its theme is adopted from a sequel of the Ramayana epic. Today, this composition has virtually become one of the prominent trademarks and milestones of Bali. From time to time, other performing arts also develop rapidly as promoted and generated by its community in harmonious cooperation with the art institutions.
Within the past three decades, tourism has widely influenced the development of artistry life in Bali. Almost all arts enjoy progressive impact. The rapid growth of art and craft centers in the village draws abundant workers. Pejaten village in Tabanan, for instance, formerly focused on the production of clay roof tiles, earthenware vessels for ritual needs, saving pots and some others. Today it produces many kinds of ornamental items also made from clay. These are used for both exterior and interior needs. Meanwhile, Kapal village (Badung) is famous for its production of concrete and wooden shrines. From this range of products, it has evolved to produce wooden and bamboo garden lamps in similar design for landscaping needs.
In the meantime, Gianyar retains unlimited treasures of art activities. Regular performance of Barong and Kris dance and fire dance has become the specialty of Batubulan. Then, some villages in Ubud regularly organize ongoing and different performing arts for tourists. Additionally, this regency also offers some other centers of craftsmen like Mas (woodcarving), Batubulan (stone carving), Belega (bamboo craft), Bona (palm-leaf craft) and Ubud itself (painting). To explore further the other centers of art and craft here, a couple of days may not be enough for you.
Of course, there are more villages across Bali offering different and unique art attractions. It would become an intriguing excursion to find more if visitors have more time to spend. Essentially, some kinds of art have grown from ritual or religious need and then developed into wider needs, such as for commercial purposes. To this extent, tourism has conferred significant drives to this development. Though the change continues Balinese people uphold their roots and preserve their identity and tradition. (BTN/punia)