Abstract Painting and Balinese Culture: Exhibition at Bale Banjar Bali Global Shankara

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FIVE famous artists are showcasing their works at Bale Banjar Bali Global Shankara, Sanur. The abstract painting exhibition entitled “Grabbing Wind” opened on Satruday April 25th., with performances and words about wind and abstract painting. I Ketut Agus Murdika, I Kadek Darma Negara, I Komang Trisno Adi Wirawan, I Made Kenak Dwi Adnyana and Tien Hong’s paintings, all use formal elements such as line, color and shape to inspire the imaginations of those who view their works.
Visual artist and lecturer at Indonesia Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar, I wayan Karja, said that abstract refers to the essence of something that is not visible. Abstract paintings are not easily explained and need not be understood with the mind, but should simply be felt. A work of abstract art is actually similar to the wind. People cannot make out a distinct form and yet like the wind there is something there that an be felt. Abstract painting is closely related to spirituality for the same reason. Abstract works of art can also be appreciated for their formal elements, that is: line, color, texture, shape, composition, rhythm and tone. “We can observe all of these”, said Dr.Karja.
If the artwork is created with harmony and properly composed, it will be a good work of art. However, if the elements are arranged randomly, but with the expression of improvisation, it can still be a good work of art. “I just look at abstract art works as the perception that they express, it’s only the spirit that is being expressed, so the abstract painter must be so very sensitive to invisible things” shared professor Karja. The theme of the exhibition as proposed by Shankara Art Space curator, is wind, inviting the painters to take this as their inspiration in creating the artworks for this show. Karja explained that each artist expressed their own unique perspective and interpretation of “wind” in their paintings and came up with the title Meraba Angin or “grabbing wind” to describe their shared vision of the act of abstract painting.


The development of abstract painting in Bali is very significant given the close relationship this art form has with one of the distinct features of Balinese culture, that is: the notion of Sekala and Niskala or physical and non-physical aspects. “So, abstract art works allow us to look at the non-physical apsects of life” concluded Professor Wayan Karja . The exhibition will run until June 20th.www.bali-travelnews.com
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