THE BARONG DANCE
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 to wound Ragda, who, in retaliation, will put them into trance.
The Barong Dance tells the tale of Rangda, who was condemned by Erlangga’s father for practicing Black Magic. After her husband died, she summoned evils spirits in the jungle to come after Erlangga. Erlangga and her army, overwhelmed by demons, asked the Barong for help. Rangda cast a spell that made Erlangga’s soldier stabbing themselves with poisonous Kriss. Fortunately Barong counter attacked and turned the soldiers’ bodies resistant to the Keris. Barong won and Rangda ran away, Good triumphed over Evil once again.
The mask of Barong and Rangda considered sacred artefacts and must be blessed by a priest with water from Mount Agung before the ceremony.
'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 ...
Ketut Murtika was born in Batuan around 1950 and became one of the most famous painters of the Batuan school, a painting style practiced by Brahman artists. His style captures Bali’s unique mystical atmosphere with ethereal depiction of everyday life scenes, landscapes and animals. His art has been shown worldwide, including France, ...
Born in 1862 in Bedahulu in Gianyar, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad was a legendary, multi-talented artist mastering stone carving, wood-carving, architecture and painting. 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 ...
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 ...
Born in 1942, I Dewa Nyoman Batuan often painted natural landscape, religious and magical aspect of Bali and Hindu Dharma. He is also the founder, along with other artists, the Pengosekan Community of Artists in 1970. You can admire his work at his gallery in Pengosekan the Neka Museum in Ubud and Agung Rai Museum ...
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...
CALENDAR
LIKE US
FOLLOW US
