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I Wayan Arnata (born in 1973, Sukawati, Gianyar) is an abstract artist who grew up surrounded by Balinese art and tradition. His works are unique and employ the traditional Balinese technique of Ngodi to create textures with threads. The Ngodi technique applied to modern abstracts yields a distinctive appearance and finish. Threads are used to signify various metaphorical themes and concepts in multiple cultures. In Balinese culture, it stands for an extended period or a medium that connects one period to the next. It is here that he found a foundation to explore tradition in his contemporary creative process while staying true to his identity and roots. Arnata has received several awards, such as the Bronze award in the UOB Painting of the Year (Established Artist Category) competition in 2017 and the Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award in 1996, 1997 and 1999. +
I Wayan Arya Bisma is a young musician and composer who grew up in Pujung Kelod, Sebatu, Gianyar. Currently, Bisma is still pursuing his undergraduate education at the Indonesian Art Institute, Denpasar. Bisma is active as a musician and composer at the Sanggar Seni Çudamani, Pengosekan, Ubud. +
I Wayan Balawan (born September 9, 1972 in Bali), better known by the single name Balawan, is an Indonesian guitarist and songwriter. He is best known as a Batuan Ethnic Fusion guitarist and his ability to play double neck guitar. Balawan has developed the 8 Fingers Touch Style technique, which also known as the Touch-Tapping Style. He is often regarded as one of the fastest guitarists in Indonesia. He is also called The Magic Finger guitarist among the world's music community.
Personal life
Balawan listened to Balinese gamelan, a traditional music style from Bali, since birth. At the age of eight he taught himself to play guitar. He joined his first band when he was 14 years old. Although he grew up in a traditional Balinese culture, Balawan played more rock songs than gamelan. Some of his favorite bands were The Scorpions, Deep Purple and The Beatles.
Eventually he became bored with rock music and decided to study jazz at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney.During his studies towards a Diploma of Music, he was awarded a three-year scholarship. He studied in Sydney for about five years, during which time he also gained popularity for his exceptional talent of playing guitar and jazz music. After he obtained his Diploma of Music in 1997, he went back to Bali and formed a band called Batuan Ethnic Fusion, which combined the traditional Balinese gamelan music with jazz / fusion style.
Career
His first professional band, Batuan Ethnic Fusion, is still active. Besides being a band member, Balawan is also working on his solo career and has released three albums. His first solo album was "Balawan", which released in 1997 by the Acoustic Music Label, a German company. Later, he worked with an Indonesian company, and with his band, he released his first band album, "GloBALIsm", under Chico&Ira production in 1999. Recently Balawan launched his second solo album, "Magic Fingers", under the Sony-BMG Music Indonesia label. Magic Fingers really showcases Balawan's abilities in arranging and composing and his ability to blend modern music with traditional Balinese gamelan.
Indra Lesmana about Balawan: "It's always exciting to find new things in art and Batuan Ethnic Fusion is a perfect example of artist who explore into the great spectrum in art with passion, love, beauty and freedom..."
As Balawan is considered as the only Indonesian guitarist who able to develop and use the "Touch Tapping" style, he often plays in Germany and Norway. In 2000, Balawan collaborated with many international guitarists at "East Meet West Gitarren Festival Edekoben Germany 2000 Tour". He also has had a tour in 20 cities in Germany in 2001. In the same year, Balawan played at "Hell Blues Festival" in Norway in September. In 2011 Balawan appeared at the 16th Other Minds festival in San Francisco.
Technique
Balawan has developed and expanded a technique called "Touch Tapping" style. The technique enables the guitarist to play two or even three different music progressions at the same time using the same instrument continuously. Another notable player of this technique is Stanley Jordan, an American jazz/fusion guitarist. Balawan developed the same progression with Stanley Jordan, that he is able to produce a piano, bass and guitar at the same time using just one instrument.
Usually Balawan uses all four fingers of his right hand to create the melody progressions and his left hand to create the bass and rhythmic sounds. Another unique thing is that there is no pattern or repetition whatsoever between the left and right hand. Thus Balawan has a very exceptional skill of playing guitar.
Balawan also plays drums, both to fill the tracks on his albums and to develop the "Touch Tapping" style.
Equipment
Since Balawan needs to play rhythmic progression and melody at the same time, he uses a special guitar with two necks made by Tommy Kaihatu that also known as Rick Hanes Guitar. Balawan's Rick Hanes Guitar has a double neck with six strings on both upper neck and lower neck, which utilises MIDI pickups to translate the notes he plays into MIDI notes played via off-board synths and samplers.
Balawan uses Rick Hanes guitars exclusively, which are Balawan Double Neck Series, Balawan Mini Guitar Series and Essel-Balawan Custom Series. He also uses Rockstone Cases and VOX amplifier.
I Wayan Bendi – 1950-2020 (Indonesia)
I Wayan Bendi was a living legend, the leading practitioner of the Batuan style of painting which developed in Bali in the 1920’s-1930’s.
He was born in 1950, in Batuan, a village near Ubud. He still remained rooted to his birthplace, where he had his studio and art gallery.
The Batuan style of painting is very intricate and detailed, crammed with many “stories”. Paintings in this style are tightly crowded with teeming crowds and scenes that depict all the traditional aspects of Bali life, like rice harvests, temple rituals, dancing girls and fantastical theater masks.
A Batuan picture usually has a sober monochrome color palette, because of the initial application of black and grey paint on the canvas surface as base. But Bendi is also an artist with a mischievous streak. For a Batuan artist, he is considered very colorful with his ‘soberly bold’ colors like brick red and light olive. Then there’s his ‘thing’ about helicopters. Bendi usually has one somewhere in his crowded agrarian scenes, and part of the fun is to hunt for it. Another favorite, the t-shirt clad, inquisitive tourist with his intrusive, long nosed camera lens, snapping away amid the water buffaloes and rickety taxis. It’s a Bendi trademark that speaks volumes about his concern for Bali’s relationship with the almighty tourist dollar.
Bendi expanded his focus to capture traumatic events that has impacted Indonesia, from the Bali bombing to the tsunami. Always, Bendi’s witty, observant paintings are like a macrocosm of modern Bali life.
The artist has exhibited in Japan, Netherlands, Belgium and New York. +
I Wayan Diana, born in Batuan, 1977. He has exhibited at the Puri Painting Museum, Arma Museum, Neka Museum, Griya Santrian Gallery, etc. He won awards as Jakarta Art Award Finalist (2008 and 2010), UOB Painting Of The Year Finalist (2012, 2013, 2014). With the Batuan style painting technique, his paintings voice a lot of social criticism. +
I Wayan Dibia was born in Singapadu, Gianyar, Bali, April 12 1948. Since 1999, he has been a professor of choreography at ISI Denpasar. He is also famous for his work in the art of Kecak dance, such as Kecak Subali and Sugriwa (1976), Kecak Dewa Ruci (1982). He once collaborated with Keith Terry to create "The famous Body Tjak" (1990).
As a dance artist, he is very famous at the international level. In the field of dance, he created the Manuk Rawa Dance with I Wayan Beratha in 1981, the Puspa Wresti Dance, the Wirauda Dance, etc. He received the "Padma Shri Award" (2021) from the Government of India for his dedication in intertwining works of art between Balinese and Indian culture. In 1969, he first performed in India with the Hanuman dance.
Apart from creating dozens of dance works, he also wrote a number of books, including "Gambuh Drama and Almost Extinct Dances in Several Regions in Bali (1979), "Kecak, the Vocal Chant of Bali" (2000), "Balinese Dance , Drama, and Music: a Guide to the Performing Arts of Bali” (2012), “Communal Dance” (2015), “Kecak: From Ritual to Theatrical” (2017), “Arja Anyar” (2017), “Barong Dance Ket: From Awakening to Glory” (2018). In 2021 he published five poetry books entitled "Dance Poetry". He also wrote a book of poetry in Balinese, including the title "Kali Sengara". He also wrote a novel about dancers entitled "Bintang Panggung" (2023).
In 2022, he received the “Bali Jani Nugraha” award from the Governor of Bali. His Balinese poetry book "Kali Sengara" won the "Rancage" award from the Rancage Cultural Foundation (2023). +
I Wayan Gunayasa was born in Ulakan, Manggis, Karangasem August 3, 1967. He is an entrepreneur and photography is one of his hobbies. He is also involved in social activities, such as children with disabilities and orphans and also participates in fighting plastic waste. His photos have been published in several magazines such as 'Emvee Magazine', 'Bali Travel' and 'Tropical Life'. He also took part in an exhibition at Mall Bali Galeria, solo exhibitions and exhibitions with other photographers. Wayan prefers to photograph culture and nature because by doing so he can travel around and get to know the culture more closely; culture in Bali in particular and Indonesian nature. He worked with Norwegian students studying in Bali in 1993-2014. +
Wayan was born in Jauary 1986. He is a graduate of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Denpasar.
Donal wishes to revive and embody the “tradition” of painting in the history of the development of modern art through the method of painting on the spot. He returns to nature and tries to appreciate and permeate the phenomenon of form, where aspects of light play a vital role in the absorption of objects by the eye and are then transferred to the canvas plane.
The choice of objects painted by Donal on the spot is also an object in the surrounding environment that is familiar in his daily life as a Balinese. Thus, what appears visibly to Donal’s works is the painting of landscapes, trees, or parts of certain plants that are painted close-up, or a collection of natural objects.
Donal views painting as part of the culture of society. He wants to present things that might look simple, natural, and beautiful (in the eyes of ordinary people) in the hope that this will be the entrance for them to be able to respond to even deeper things, that is, the ideas in each of his paintings.
Based on Donal’s view of his creative process as serious and intense, painting on the spot with impasto techniques, we can read this as Donal’s effort to celebrate and give meaning to painting as a way of presenting beauty and peace of mind through the elements of art—especially colors, which all support light. Donal puts painting as mainstream in his creative process. His struggle and his trust in the power of painting is an inseparable part of a human being’s sense of beauty.
He joined in group exhibitions from 2005, and had solo exhibitions from 2014. +
I Wayan Juniarta's primary profession is as a journalist who finds solace in crafting essays following his tragically failed attempt at writing poetry. His first Bungklang-Bungkling records the hilarity and ludicrousness of Balinese men. When he’s not writing essays, Jun can be found pedaling towards the island’s most serene spots while composing bite-size koans, which you can seek out using the hashtag #cyclingwithbuddha. +
Mangku Bajra whose real name is I Wayan Langgeng, was born in Sanur Kaja, July 1, 1963. He is in charge of leading and completing the Panca Yadnya ceremony. Prior to becoming a priest, he taught Balinese and Hinduism at an elementary school in Sanur. In his youth, he liked to act in theater and write poetry. His poems have been published in the Bali Post Sunday. In addition, he also likes to write lontar. Because of his passion for writing and reading lontar, he understands the science of traditional Balinese medicine (usada). Apart from being a priest, he is a traditional elder in Sanur Kaja. +
I Wayan Mudita Adnyana, born in Tenganan Village, Karangasem, Bali, 16 September 1931. He is an expert in copying ancient lontar, singing kakawin, playing Gender and Selonding gamelan. He learned to copy lontar from I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa from Singaraja in 1943. From a young age he had copied many lontar, including the Bhagawad Gita, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Purusada Santa, Sutasoma, Arjuna Wiwaha, Bomantaka, Gatotkacasraya, and so on. In 1970 he helped build a village library called Widhi Sastra. In 1972, he pioneered copying lontar containing images of wayang in Tenganan. He also created a wayang sekaa (group) called Dharma Kusuma in 1980.
Copies of the lontar are widely collected by domestic and foreign collectors as well as state officials, including the President of Italy, Sandro Pertini (1983); New Zealand Prime Minister Hellene Clark (1988); President Megawati Soekarno Putri (2001). A copy of his lontar entitled Kakawin Sutasoma was once offered by a foreign collector for hundreds of millions of rupiah, but he did not let it go. Because he will pass on his favorite palm leaf to his children and grandchildren.
In 1984, he won second place in the Bali Provincial Lontar Copying Competition. In 1987, he received the Dharma Kusuma Madya Award from the Governor of Bali, the Cultural Award from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (2019), the Bali Bhuwana Nata Kerthi International Level Award from ISI Denpasar (2023), the 2024 Bali Kerthi Nugraha Mahotama Award from the Bali Provincial Government.
Even at his very old age, he was still actively copying palm prints. Everyday he can be found at his residence in Tenganan Village. +
I Wayan Pande Sumardika is a Balinese writer. He was born in Ngis Village, December 31, 1993. He comes from Banjar Dinas Kajanan, Ngis Village, Manggis District, Karangasem Regency. He is also an alumnus of the Bali Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Udayana University class of 2012. +
Mr. I Wayan Phala Suwara S.Pd.H.,M.Pd he was born in Denpasar, May 22, 1993. Located on Jalan Gemitir, Gang Suli B Biaung-Denpasar. His parents are I Wayan Sujana and Ni Nyoman Sariani.
He works as a teacher at SMA Negeri 3 Denpasar. His last education was S2 at IHDN. +
Author and cartoonist I Wayan Sadha was born in Jimbaran, on July 29, 1948. He attended guard school until grade 2 of Sekolah Rakyat. I Wayan Sadha has a lot of experiences having worked as a fisherman, laborer, tradesman, gardener, traveling photographer, until he became a journalist and most recently, a cartoonist and author. He created the dog cartoon character "Somprét" which is unique with satirical elements regarding Balinese social and cultural problems.
He often participates in cartoon exhibitions with artists in Denpasar, has been invited to exhibit with Prakarti at the ARMA Muséum, Ubud, Bali Biénnalé and others. Won 3rd place in Photo “Bali Tourism 1981” and the 2010 Rancagé Literature prize with his book entitled “Léak Pamoroan”. His cartoons and short stories have been published in The Archipélago magazine, English Corner, Bali cho, Nusra Daily, Sarad Magazine, Poléng Magazine, and Taksu Magazine. He was a resource person at the event Sandyakala Sastra #5 in 2010 with Ida Bagus Wayan Widiasa Kenintén at Bentara Budaya Bali. He died on January 28, 2015.
His published books are:
Bali in the Eyes of the Somprét (Cartoon, 1994),
The dog of Bali Somprét Celotéh Dog Bali (Cartoon, 2008),
Léak Pemoroan (short story collection, 2009),
Paruman Betara (short story collection, 2014). +
I Wayan Seregg was born in Timpag Village, Kerambitan, Tabanan, December 31 1940. He is a student of Old Javanese Literature. Apart from that, he is also skilled in mesanti (composition of sacred songs). Because of this, he is often asked to guide kakawin and Balinese literary arts.
Seregg is often trusted as a Balinese language instructor, as well as being a judge in Balinese literature competitions. He is also a marriage counselor for high school students and students. He also appeared as a resource person, one of which was in the context of the Family Gathering and Study Orientation by the Faculty of Letters, Udayana University.
Seregeg is the supervisor of Ancient Javanese Literature at the Denpasar Bangun Sastra Foundation, and is active in the organization as Chair of the Gerokgak District Widya Sabha, Deputy Chair of the Buleleng Regency Widya Sabha, founder and supervisor of the Sekaa Santi Widya Sabha, and supervisor of kekawin. Seregg has dedicated his life to Balinese script, language and literature. He received the Wija Kusuma Award from the Buleleng Regency Government, the Dharma Kusuma from the Bali Provincial Government, the 2024 Bali Kerthi Nugraha Mahottama Award from the Bali Provincial Government, and awards from other agencies. Now, he lives in Gerokgak, Buleleng, Bali. +
Mr. I Wayan Suardika is a pengawi from the Nusa Penida region, he was born in Pelilit 08 June 1989, he has his address at Pelilit hamlet des Pejukutan Subdistrict Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Mr. I Wayan Suardika studied elementary school at SDN 8 Suana, studying junior high school at SMPN 1 Nusa Penida, attended high school at SMAN 1 Nusa Penida, then took undergraduate and postgraduate education at the Ganesha education university by taking the Balinese language education study program. Since 2017 he has been writing Balinese literature purwa +
I Wayan Suartha was born in Klungkung in 1957. Retired as a teacher for ASN (State Civil Apparatus) at SMA Wisata-PGRI Dawan, Klungkung. After retiring in 2017, he was assigned as the head of literacy at the same school. Suartha wrote poetry since junior high school, but it was only published in 1977 in a number of mass media, such as Bali Post, Karya Bakti, Student News, Nusa Tenggara, Hai Magazine, and Merdeka. In addition to writing poetry, Suartha is also active in writing short stories, drama scripts, as well as small notes on literary and theater appreciation. Dozens of fragments have been played on TVRI Denpasar Station.
His poems have been published in a number of anthologies with other poets, including Pintu Ilalang, Spektrum, The Ginseng, Shades of Inner Coloring, the Balinese anthology Pupute Tan Sida Puput, and Klungkung Tanah Tua Tanah Cinta. His literary historical work entitled Lebur Ring Klungkung in the form of an illustrated story was written with Ida Bagus Gde Parwita, guided by the history of the Puputan Klungkung incident. In 2005, together with I.B.G Parwita, he was invited to read his poems at the Ubud Wirters and Readers Festival. A collection of scripts for his drama chain Putus was published in 2012 which won him the Widya Pataka award from the Bali Provincial Government.
Suartha now lives in Banjar Pekandelan Kelod, Semarapura, Klungkung. +
I Wayan Subudi Yadnyana, a.k.a Swoofone, was born in Denpasar in 1994.
He expresses himself through paintings, video mapping, multi-disciplined collaborations and more. Identified by his limited palette and design sensibility, he is an emerging artist with a definite and eye-catching style. Swoofone has confirmed his presence within the sphere of Balinese contemporary art.
“Initially, my designs grew from observing the landscape and traditional architecture. I was then attracted to the old European, Japanese and Indian architectural styles. I studied Balinese Hindu mythology and teachings that I wanted to translate,” said Swoofone, who also dedicates himself to helping organise local exhibitions. “The basis of my colour expression is Tri Datu: consisting of red, white and black representing the Balinese cycle of reincarnation. I like the limited colours. I want to explore the potential, and then maybe add other colours later.” +
Sadu’s childhood home was in Sayan, a village west of Ubud. Currently he lives in his own house not far from it with his wife, who is Japanese, and their 2 children. Wayan Sadu paints in silence. His paintings also has a silence presence in them that could only be captured by the artists himself. +
Sudarna Putra was born in Ubud, Bali on 15 April 1976. He studied art from 1994 – 2004 in ISI Yogyakarta and has lived there since until earthquake in Yogyakarta in May 2006 then he returned home to Ubud. Interpreting the paintings, sculptures and installations of Sudarna Putra is like being reminded of the richness of contemporary aesthetics that refues a single code in the framework of opening opportunities for combining various systems into an eclectic code.
He has been doing many solo and group exhibition since 2005, and some of is notable achievements are: 10 Winners of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award VI (1999) and Best Artwork of Lustrum IV ISI Yogyakarta (2004). His duo exhibition with I Made Arya Palguna “NOSTALGIA” was held at Komaneka Fine Art Gallery in 2007. +
