ABOUT
COLORS OF BALI
Rediscovering natural pigments & dyes in Balinese traditional crafts
Exhibition opening 7pm, Saturday, 4th December 2021 at CushCush Gallery
Opening address by Anthea Griffin, Australian Consul General Bali
Launching of Colors Of Bali short film documentary
Performance by HMJ Pedalangan, Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar
Exhibition / Public program
4th December – 19th December 2021
Celebrating Crafts
Kamasan Painting (Kamasan) | Topeng (Singapadu) | Wayang Kulit (Sukawati) | Gringsing (Tenganan) | Cepuk (Tanglad) | Songket (Sidemen)
The six traditional crafts that we are investigating in the Colors Of Bali program are divided into two streams: one is the wayang stream, containing the crafts of Wayang Kulit, Topeng, and Kamasan painting, which all share the same narratives from ancient epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana. Colors are applied through painting and pigment in these crafts, and through our research we found that many of the pigments used in Wayang, Kamasan Painting and Topeng are very similar in terms of process and color scheme. On the other hand, the textile stream encompasses the crafts of Gringsing, Cepuk and Songket, which all have roots or have been influenced by the ancient Indian textile, the Patola. Historically, all three textiles also were woven with hand spun cotton yarn locally produced in Bali, using a cag-cag (backstrap loom). Although the colors and motifs of Gringsing, Cepuk, and Songket are not the same, it is interesting to see the connections and relationships between these three different textiles and their purpose within Balinese ritual context.
Evidence of usage of natural dyes and pigments has been traced back to 2500 BC in India 1, with records of the usage of Indigofera (Indigo) as a coloring substance. In China, there were records of Indigo being used in households all the way from 4000 BC 2. The roots of how these natural pigments and dyes developed within these ancient Balinese crafts are unknown, but perhaps the knowledge of the natural dyes and pigments came to Indonesia and to Bali through trade between these countries, or perhaps the people of Bali developed their own methods. However, we do know that Bali has a deep history of these crafts, with evidence of Wayang Kulit and Topeng written in scriptures dating back to the 9th Century 3. As synthetic dyes were only created in the late 19th Century 4, any preceding color in these traditional crafts had to be achieved through natural dyes and pigments. It is interesting to see the transition from natural to synthetic pigments and dyes in more recent times, and to investigate the potential reasons behind this change.
ARTISTS, ARTISANS AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS
I Nyoman Mandra, I Made Sesangka Puja Laksana, Ni Wayan Sri Wedari, Ni Made Kartini, Ni Nyoman Mandri, Ni Wayan Jempiring, I Made Danan Adi Laksana, Cokorda Raka Sedana (Cok Alit), Cokorda Putra Wiyuda, I Wayan Nartha, I Ketut Sudiana, I Nyoman Sadra, I Putu Wiadnyana, I Nengah Sadri, Ni Kadek Trisnawati, Ni Wayan Sari (Ibu Luh), Cokorda Sawitri, Ida Swarga Ida I Dewa Ayu Alit (Wak Alit), Ida Ayu Ngurah Puniari, Ni Ketut Astiti (B, Jero)
PUBLIC PROGRAM
Public program schedule :
- 4 December 2021: Colors Of Bali Exhibition Opening
Opening address by Anthea Griffin, Australian Consul General Bali.
Launching of Colors Of Bali short film documentary
Performance by HMJ Pedalangan, Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar - 5 December 2021: Colors Of Bali Curatorial Tour
A walk through COB exhibition with curator Suriawati - 7 December 2021: Making natural pigment of Kamasan (Offline & Online)
Artisan-led workshop & discussion with I Made Sesangka Puja Laksana at Nyoman Mandra Studio in Banjar Sangging, Kamasan. - 9 December 2021: Story of Craft and Color in Bali (Online)
Webinar with researchers, educators and cultural practitioners on crafts and color signification in Bali:-
I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra (Architect/Researcher/Academic, Warmadewa University)
I Wayan Karja (Artist/Lecturer, Institut Seni Indonesia ISI Denpasar)
Cok Sawitri (Artist, activist, poet and guardian of Songket & wastra Bali) - 11 December 2021: Make my first Wayang
Children workshop with dalang I Ketut Sudiana – A hands-on and fun workshop making wayang using everyday materials - 11 December 2021: Up Close with Mask Artist
Meet the mask maker/artist Cokorda Raka Sedana, sharing the process of making and dance gestures of Balinese masks. - 12 December 2021: Fun with DIY natural ink
Children workshop with LagiLagi – A hands-on and fun workshop making natural ink from local plants & kitchen waste - 12 December 2021: Up Close with Gringsing Weaver
Meet weaver Ni Kadek Trisnawati, sharing the process of making and how to wear Gringsing. - 14 December 2021: Making natural dye of Kain Bebali (Offline & Online)
Artisan-led workshop & discussion with Ida Ayu Ngurah Puniari & Ida Bagus Made Adnyana at Studio Tuhu Batu Songket in Batuan, Sukawati. - 16 December 2021: Designing with Craft in Bali (Online)
Discussion with artists, artisans and design practitioners who work with craft: historical development, current practices and future possibilities of crafts and design in Bali:-
Sonny Sepoetro (Mentor/Jury in product development & programs)
Jindee Chua (Designer/Creative Director, CushCush, CCG & LagiLagi)
Budiman Ong (Designer & Maker, Ong Cen Kuang & JIA)
Agustinus Timbool (Artist/Trainer who works with craft and natural dye)
Fiona Caripis (Designer, Kajimundo)
Gabriella Manurung (Product designer who works with communities/crafts)
- 18 December 2021: Colors Of Bali Curatorial Tour
A walk through COB exhibition with curator Suriawati - 19 December 2021: Colors Of Bali Exhibition Closing
The making of Colors Of Bali – Meet the people behind COB, sharing about the making of COB catalogue, video documentary & exhibition :-
Suriawati Qiu (program manager/curator). Jindee Chua (creative director). Fiona Caripis (natural dye consultant), Reevo Saulus (visual identity), Gusti Ayu Wulandari Kusuma Wardhani (catalogue design & layout), Wayan Martino, Putu Dedy Pradiska, Luthfi Muhammad (video documentation), Kenji Stephen Djatnika (photography), Lingga Hadriani Wasito, Verra Musriana (exhibition set designer).
With invited guests:-
Edo Wulia (Minikino), Fransiska Prihadi (MASH Denpasar), Made Adnyana Ole & Kadek Sonia Piscayanti (Mahima)
Performance by Divecollate: Another Set, Featuring Ketut Sedana X PanduSD
SHORT FILM DOCUMENTARY
EXHIBITION E-CATALOGUE
Please click to download e-catalogue
Please click to download COB timeline (ENG)
Please click to download COB timeline (IND)
ORGANISING TEAM
Program manager and curator: Suriawati Qiu
Creative director: Jindee Chua
Assistant program manager: Sherrene Chua Shi En
Account reporting: Ni Kadek Novianti
Research team: Sherrene Chua Shi En, Salsabila Ramadita
Assistant coordinator & communication: Eva Agustin, Ni Kadek Dilla Sugiantari, Ni Putu Padma Krishna Narayan
Translation: Sherrene Chua Shi En, Salsabila Ramadita, Ni Kadek Dilla Sugiantari, Ni Putu Padma Krishna Narayan
Visual Identity: Reevo Saulus
Graphic design: Putu Dedy Pradiska, Kenji Stephen Djatnika, Putu Tasya Pratiwi Utami
Photography: Putu Dedy Pradiska, Kenji Stephen Djatnika
Photography (Exhibition & Public program): Syafiudin Vifick
Video documentation: Wayan Martino, Putu Dedy Pradiska, Luthfi Muhammad
Exhibition organiser: CushCush Gallery
Exhibition set designer: Lingga Hadriani Wasito, Verra Musriana
Exhibition set up: CushCush
Catalogue editor: Made Adnyana Ole (Indonesian), Kadek Sonia Piscayanti (English)
Catalogue article contributor: I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, Siobhan Campbell, I Wayan Karja
Catalogue cover design and layout: Gusti Ayu Wulandari Kusuma Wardhani
Video documentary credits:
Produced by: CushCush Gallery
Directed by: Suriawati Qiu & Jindee Chua
Cinematographer: Wayan Martino
Editor: Luthfi Muhammad
Animator: Putu Dedy Pradiska
Music: Putu Dedy Pradiska
Camera Operator: Wayan Martino, Putu Dedy Pradiska, Luthfi Muhammad
Transcript: Salsabila Ramadita
Translator: Sherrene Chua Shi En
Subtitle: Ni Kadek Dilla Sugiantari, Ni Putu Padma Krishna Narayan
PRESS RELEASE
Click to download COB Press Release (ENG)
Click to download COB Press Release (IND)
NEWS
History of Colour – Colors of Bali Article in Timeless Bali Vol. 3 (NOW! Bali Publication)
https://tatkala.co/2021/12/19/exploring-society-of-mind-and-mind-of-society-in-colors-of-bali/
https://balebengong.id/colors-of-bali-menjelajahi-kembali-kerajinan-tradisional-bali//
https://www.antaranews.com/foto/2566181/pameran-colors-of-bali