(11/12/2005)
An important change in Balinese painting occurred in the 1960s when the Dutch-Indonesian artist Arie Smit began offering free painting lessons to talented Balinese children.
A Fauvist and committed to more naturalistic forms of expression, Smit purposely limited his tutelage to only showing his pupils how to use the tools of painting and mix colors, carefully avoiding "polluting" their native creativity and child-like perspective. The result was an entire school of Balinese painting, now loosely grouped under the heading "Young Artists of Penestanan." This new style retained traditional subjects naively depicting crowded, helter-skelter scenes from Balinese village life with what was then the innovative use of brilliant coloration.
One artists influenced by Smit's legacy of education was Ngurah KK, an original member of the Penestanan Young Artists group who still refers to Smit as his great teacher or guru besar. Now, some 40 years later, after holding his own successful exhibitions across Europe and Asia, Ngurah KK, together with his protégé and wife – Jro Candra, are recognized as among the leading practitioners of the young artist style.
From December 1 through December 31, 2005, Ngurah KK and Jro Candra, will exhibit over 30 original works of art at the
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa in an exhibition entitled "Balinese Ritual Life."
Admission is free an open daily at the
Maya Ubud Resort and Spa.
© Bali
Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced
if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com.
