On Saturday, 2nd August 2008, a memorial ceremony was held in Ujung Water Palace as a tribute to the late Dr. Anak Agung Made Djelantik; son of the last king of Karangasem, founder of Walter Spies Foundation with immense contribution to the art and culture of Bali such as founding Listibya (an agency for cultural preservation in Bali). He also arranged many spectacular festivals to continue Spies’ work to foster emerging artists. Outside the art and culture circle, Dr Anak Agung Made Djelantik was renowned as a doctor who had worked for many years with the World Health Organization to combat Malaria in Africa, the Middle East and throughout Indonesia. He was the first Balinese Director of Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar.

(more…)

At first it looked like it might rain. But then the mood lightened and it was a bright and crisp day. As I walked down the path to Cristina’s house, it hit me. I will never walk this path again. I entered the archway where her helpers, Ibu Ketut and Pak Made had decorated with coconut fronds. Two big “offerings” of fruit and flowers flanked her doorway.

Rio had printed up a lovely photo of Cristina by a river holding her favorite mask, Dalem the king and hung it on the outside door. She was looking up at us. I walked into her living space and there was another photo of her looking out to the actual river and the view outside, in profile with the mask side by side with her, in profile As well.

The kitchen was filled with coffee, tea and Balinese cakes that Asri had organized. I started Working on a “buku kenangan” or memorial book (thank you, Tom Hunter for that idea!), filling it with photos from Cristina’s albums. Everyone who came signed it, saying good bye to Cristina for The last time.

The Gambuh troupe filtered in, we could see them coming down the path carrying their instruments, all the Men in long blue t-shirts and kain (sarongs). They set up the instruments and were given coffee and cakes.

(more…)

7 September – 23 November 2007
QUIDZY Showroom
Jalan Kunti II/No. 20
Seminyak

23 September – 1 October 2007
Campuhan College
Jalan Raya Sanggingan
Ubud

The photographs displayed in these two exhibitions are from the collection of Maurizio Rosenberg Colorni, who has been searching for old Balinese photographs since 2003.

They are mostly from anonymous sources with a few exceptions. These are the first of many exhibitions of early Bali photographs to be shown on Bali by Rosenberg Colorni.

(more…)

The closing of Sanur Village Festival was given a fresh nuance with the performance of Grup Gedebong Goyang (Swaying Banana Tree Trunk Sister or G3). Powered by Rucina Ballinger, Kerry Pendergrast, Suzan Kohlik and Antonella De Santis, the G3 rocked the stage with hilarious performance, sending barrage of jokes and arising laughter of the spectators.

Accompanied by Band Satya Hati which belongs to Bali Hati Foundation, the G3 began their performance by singing Joni Agung’s Balinese reggae song, entitled Melalung (Naked) which mocks the anti-pornography issue. In par with melalung other songs in Balinese and Indonesian also kept the audience attention with their uproarious parody and of course with their fluency in Balinese language and Bahasa Indonesia.

(more…)

In Bali, dances, dances dramas and music are almost as indispensable part of a sacrificial ritual as the offering itself. Like an extravagantly supplemented canang offering, they are offered to the gods at home and temple festivals. Like incense, music rises to heaven as a vehicle for the uranian powers to come down to man.

With rare exceptions, Balinese dances, dance dramas and music are functional arts, not art for art’s sake. All the music, performed and composed collectively, all choreography and all dances are ultimately rooted in religion. There is virtually no major ritual even which is not supplemented or enriched in one way or another by music, dance or theatre; in many way one must even speak of compulsory parts of a ritual cycle, of dramatized sacrifices without which a yajna would not be proper and complete. (Urs Ramseyer. The Art and Culture of Bali. Museum der Kulturen Basel and Schwabe & Co: Verlag, Basel, 2002).

(more…)