Taking down the wall between craft and art

Trisha Sertori ,  Contributor ,  Bali   |  Thu, 05/15/2008 12:20 PM  |  Lifestyle

There has long been debate about what constitutes fine art and what craft is. In the early 1920's, legendary etching master Escher took lino cuts from an illustrators book and developed them into fine art that is still held in awe today.

Prior to Escher, fine art fell into the painting and sculpture categories. Today, the lines between craft and art are blurred; this is beautifully established in "Hidden Treasures - Two Expatriates in Bali", an upcoming exhibition that will be held at the Four Seasons' Ganesha Gallery in Jimbaran.

Showcasing the works of genius jeweler Jean-Francois Fichot, and textile maestro Sebastian Mesdag, the exhibition breaks down the wall between art and artisan.

Both artists studied in France, but arrived in Bali at different times.

Fichot discovered the island three decades ago as a young wanderer, and says his arrival in Bali marked the beginnings of a life's work creating wondrous pieces of jewelry and other unique objects. At that time, Bali was still a sleepy province of rice farmers, buffaloes and ceremonies.

Mesdag's arrival in Bali, just two years ago, landed him in a society in flux; a place of contradictions, commerce and consistency in ancient rituals.

These shifts and moves in Balinese society are mirrored in the living patterns within his textile designs that celebrate the symbols of Asia.

As an artist, Mesdag broadened his vision during his studies in India at the Shantiniketan university, established by the great Rabindranath Tagore. He also journeyed into the heart of Australia, meeting the country's indigenous peoples. These travels have lent Mesdag a feeling for color that glosses richly from his textiles pieces.

Dyes used to produce his silks are natural, made from the earth and plants; working with these natural materials builds colors as soft as a sunset in the Australian outback, and as richly green-gold as the ripening Balinese rice fields.

Mesdag's move from painting to textiles brings with it a painterly notion of light and shade that gives his textiles a sense of exquisite harmony, breathing in silks and embroidery. His pieces are large -- around 200 x 120 centimeters, each a painting in silk and thread itself.

Ganesha Gallery Manager Luh Resiki says Mesdag's works are one-off, framed artworks of great beauty and softness.

"We decided on this exhibition because the works of Fichot and Mesdag are magnificent and one-off pieces. Fichot's jewelry and objects des arts are high art and very, very special. Mesdag's silk textiles are breathtaking.

"We felt this show needed to be held for people to see these works in their rightful place, an exhibition," says Resiki.

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"Hidden Treasures - Two Expatriates in Bali" opens May 19 at Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Jimbaran and runs until June 19. For further information, contact the gallery on 0361-701 010.

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