MAGICAL & ENCHANTING BALINESE PAINTINGS

when I first saw these paintings - I was completely captivated! Just look at the rich colours and intricate fine details of the leaves, trees, temple buildings, stone brick walls, golden tapestries, costumes and facial expression of each and every character. The scenery reflects much of the animalistic beliefs, devotion and religious beliefs of the Balinese people. Some has a darker, supernatural side of life whereby the spirits and powers of nature affect the daily life of the Balinese people.

From demons to witches with fangs, clowns looking like mischievous monkeys, balinese courtly musicians, drummers, Gamelan players (a type of gong sounding percussion musical instrument which is most hypnotic), to beautiful ladies, some young and sweet looking, some very maternal and nurturing, sometimes seen with babies or little children skyclad or with soft bare buns exposed. The central theme of the painting is about the Barong & Rangda dance.

Barong & Rangda - This is basically a story about the struggle between good & evil. Good is personified by the Barong Keket, a strange, fun-loving creature in the shape of a shaggy semi-lion. Evil is represented by Rangda, a witch. Ultimately the two characters engage in battle at which point the Barong's keris-bering followers rush to attack Rangda. The witch, however, uses her magical powers to turn the keris knives in, upon the owners, who fall into a trance and start trying to stab themselves. The barong then uses magic to protect his followers from the knives. In the end, the barong triumps and Rangda retreats to recuperate her strength for the next encounter. 'Evil' is not completely destroyed. Rather it shows the eternal duality between good & evil. All that remains is for a priest to help the keris dancers out of their trance with the help of a little holy water.

Keliki Style - Keliki art is very similar to the Old Batuan Style with the one exception being size; Keliki paintings measures 20cm by 15cm. They contain scenes of mythical and Ramayanic characters engaged in battle, good versus evil, on sinistert backgrounds. Keliki artists also follow the tradition of the old Wayang artists in that they seldom sign their work.

Batuan style - strongly Wayang based, this style involved hundreds of intricately painted representations of Balinese life filling every available nook & cranny of the picture.

Wayang style - These iconographic representations follow strict rules and guidelines as to how the characters should be portrayed. For example, a person's character and status can be seen from the colours used to portray them, his headdress or even direction in which he is facing. Noblemen always have refined faces while coarse characters have large, bulging eyes and fangs.

When you purchased this painting, you'll be pleased to know that all 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Charity.