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.

Stone carving

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 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 •

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

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.

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.

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.

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Nusa Dua - Bali
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