Balinese artists are world renowned for their skill in
carving wood and painting representations of the local mythical
beings. The word 'artist' or 'craftsman' didn't exist in
Balinese. The people who do these things are known as 'workers',
just like those in the rice fields. In fact, most of these
artists, even today, still work in the rice fields.
Sculpture is a good example of art in Bali. It's everywhere.
It's in the temples, in the hotels, in the gardens, on the
houses, along the roads. Sculpture is created on public
buildings, for the Gods. It's considered functional, as
a part of life, not as something separate. Artists are rarely
identified. Much of the carving work is shared among numerous
craftsmen. The carvings are done in volcanic rock, known
as 'paras', which is excellent in detail, because of its'
softness. Because of this softness, however, the carvings
don't last long in the tropical weather. This means the
sculptures must be redone every 20 or so years. Far from
being a disadvantage, the result is that the art of sculpting
has never had an opportunity to die. Artists have expanded
from purely religious themes, to more commercial ones, like
dogs and lanterns.
Painting
Painting is another famous art of Bali. Before the 1920's,
there were very few paintings that were not religious
in nature. Since the advent of tourists, however, many
schools of painting have developed. Hindu themes are still
popular, as are scenes of nature and village life. Ubud
and its' neighboring villages, Peliatan and Penestanan,
are well-known for their concentration of artists. Balinese
carving and painting skills are also applied to wood.
Statues, furniture, ornamentation, and masks are seen
everywhere in Bali. In particular, the masks of Bali have
become world famous. Many Balinese dances require masks,
such as this Barong, carved from wood, then painted and
decorated.
The Balinese have never bothered to compartmentalize
their lives. Art, then, is not something that is hung
on a wall or put in a cabinet. Art is always functional,
and the functional is always art. Offerings, cloth, and
architecture fit in this mode of thinking, as well.
It's difficult to find any phase of Balinese life that
could not, by western standards, be called 'art'. This
offering to the gods, for example. Or the sculpted rice
fields of rural Bali. While created for the utility of
irrigation, there is no denying the beauty of the result.
This is probably the great lesson that Bali offers
to the world
*Beauty
and function, in all phases of life, are one*
Music
Traditional Gamelan of Bali has a long
and rich tradition of gamelan music. The gamelan is a
large ensemble, consisting of up to 40 musicians playing
varying sizes of gongs, xylophones, and drums. It performs
for traditional occasions and ceremonies.
Balinese dance drama
Traditional Gamelan of Bali has a long
and rich tradition of gamelan music. The gamelan is a
large ensemble, consisting of up to 40 musicians playing
varying sizes of gongs, xylophones, and drums. It performs
for traditional occasions and ceremonies.
The Balinese form known as dance-drama
is an ancient tradition, descended from the Indian Hindu
epics that were told in song and dance. Today these dances,
sometimes lasting all night, are still often performed
for rites of passage and festivals. The specific hand
and arm movements are distinctively characteristic of
Balinese dancing.
Balinese Dances
Bali without dance would be like basketball without trash
talk; worthwhile, but undeniably less interesting. If
you're going to Bali, you must see a real dance performance.
Barong Dance
The Barong Dance is a powerful battle
of good and evil. The dance is actually a battle. The
Barong costume is sacred, imbued with the soul
of the Barong. It performs a kind of exorcism every time
it dances. The dance is, to us, an entertaining show;
full of humor and action.
To the Balinese, also, it is an entertaining show. In
addition, it is an opportunity to keep the cosmos in balance.
The Barong battles between the evil Rangda.
There is a story line to the Barong dance,
but really, at it's heart, it's the Ultimate Wrestling
match between two heavyweight champions who never go down.
Kecak Dance
The Kecak is an unusual Balinese dance
for a couple of reasons. There is no musical accompaniment.
The gamelan is not there. Rhythm is provided by a chanting
'monkey' chorus. The polyrhythmic sound of the chanting
provides the name, 'Ke-chak'.
The story line for the Kecak is taken
from the Ramayana. Prince Rama goes hunting for a golden
deer and his beautiful wife is kidnapped by the evil Rawana.
Story is secondary in this performance, though. If you
want to see the story of the Ramayana, you should see
a Ramayana performance.
The Kecak is a triumph of style and
mood, rather than story. Watch the faces of audience members.
More than any other Balinese dance, the Kecak turns every
viewer into a child, wide-eyed and transfixed.
Legong Dance
A favorite of the Balinese Dances, the Legong
is a palace dance that features the prettiest young girls.
The dancers used to be ( and sometimes still are ) hand
picked by the local prince. Gorgeous costumes and an array
of eye, shoulder, hand, head, hip, and foot movements
dazzle.
No part of the costume or the dancer is wasted.
Flowers jiggle. Balls swing. Material sways. Eyes
dart. Fingers part. And the feet arch and curl. When performed
well, there is a perfect synchronization between the Tjondong
and the gamelan orchestra.
Crisp, precise movements highlight the crystalline ringing
of the gamelan. The Legong follows (
loosely ) a story about a princess, a king, a kidnapping,
and a bird of Omen. But then, even among the Balinese,
no one really watches the Legong for
the plot.
The Ramayana Dance
The Ramayana is a great Hindu epic that
is loved all over South East Asia. The full story is massive,
and told only in episodes. The most popular episode tells
the story of Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother
Laksmana. They are banished from their kingdom and wandering
through the deep forest.
One day, while hunting for deer, they are tricked by the
evil Rawana, who kidnaps Sita. With the help of the mythical
Garuda, and Hanuman - a white monkey general, Prince Rama
eventually saves his wife. Everyone in Bali loves this
story, and even at tourist shows, there are sure to be
Balinese in attendance. Hanuman is everyone's favorite
character.
Animals in Balinese plays are allowed more freedoms than
human characters. This is true in both the dance and the
performance. As a result, Hanuman is usually performed
by the most creative actor. Every performance is never
be the same, it's really different. Because Rama and Laksmana
are seen as idealized personifications of beauties, they
are played by women. This often confuses tourists, who
can't keep track of the characters.
Read the plot line before the show, then forget about
it. Once the show starts, watch Hanuman make his jokes,
enjoy the costumes and dances, and listen to the gamelan
orchestra.
