I GUSTI NYOMAN LEMPAD
He founded, with fellow artist and friend Rudolph Bonnet, the Pita Maha, a very active association in the development of art and support to artist in Bali. His ink drawings gained international acclaim for their composition and clarity. Some of his works were made as narratives episodes, on dried leaves and paper. His narrative works focus on figures, movements. Lempad illustrated episodes of Indian epic mythology and Balinese folklore, adding erotic and humorous elements to them. He also designed a part of the Royal residence and a temple in Ubud.
The artist lived most of his life in Ubud, where he met Rudolph Bonnet and Walter Spies who collected some of his work. He died in 1978 in Ubud. Parts of his collection can be seen at the Neka Art Museum in Ubud, the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde in Leiden and the Museum fur Volkenkunde in Basel (Switzerland).
'Walter Spies was a Russian-born German primitivist painter and musician who moved to Java in 1923. He later moved to Ubud. He is often credited with attracting the attention of the Western art scene of his time to Balinese culture and art. His house (today an hotel) has seen many illustrious visitors, such as Charlie Chaplin, Austrian ...
Born in Ubud in 1952, Nyoman Meja has built a bridge between tradition and modernity. He met Rudolph Bonnet in the 1970’s, which influenced his vision as post-traditional painter. As he still uses the Penalak as a strong reference to the Ubud style, his use of lighting is definitely of a modern approach. Among other topics, Nyoman Meja has ...
The gamelan is the Balinese orchestra that can be heard as a tribute to the Gods and deified ancestors in temple ceremonies, weddings, cremations, family temple ceremonies and procession. There are more than twenty different types of gamelan, each with their own traditions, repertoire, social and religious ...
'Originally a religious ritual, Baris dance is probably the most complex of all Balinese dance, requiring a very rigorous training. Baris dancing is the male equivalent of the Legong dance. The name “Baris” means “line”, referring to the line of soldiers who served the Rajas of Bali in ancient times. Baris dance is a traditional war ...
The Barong dance is also a story of Good overcoming Evil. The Barong, mythical creature, protector of good (embodied by two dancer in a costume), fights Rangda, the evil Lord of Darkness. The tale is told by a dance rythmed to the sound of a Gamelan gorchestra. As the fight goes on, supporters of Barong, a group of men armed with Kris, try ...
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Bali has sure seen the birth and progress of numerous bands this year, and here we are, happy to do our part related to the births and happenings related to the island's music scene! We are sure passionate to cheer for the newcomers to make their way and earn their place, of course starting in the local scene. This week we...
