The ongoing sculpture exhibition “Different Forms, One Existence” has managed to turn this perception on its head and at the same time quench the local art connoisseurs’ thirst for a good sculpture
exhibition.

Held at the historic Puri Lukisan museum in the heart of Ubud, the exhibition displays the works of 75 sculptors with different backgrounds.

 Some are from the older generation. A significant number of them don’t have academic backgrounds, as they learned the art of sculpting from village artisans and master sculptors. Some are young and have strong academic backgrounds in art.

Participating artists include Ketut Muja, Nyoman Rubig, Made Sukanta Wahyu, Ida Bagus Putu Sutama, Pande Wayan Mataram, Kondang Sugito, Ni Kadek Karuni, Ida Bagus Alit, Wayan Sujana Suklu, Wayan Pugeg, Wayan Jana, and Wayan Gawiarta.

Held until Oct. 31, the exhibition is co-organized by Denpasar’s Indonesia Arts Institute (ISI) and Bali Indonesia Sculptors Association (BIASA), and curated by promising artist Wayan Seriyoga Parta.

“The fine arts world has been dominated by painting exhibitions for so long. Sculpture has become a marginalized member of this world. There are less sculptors than painters nowadays and it takes relatively longer to finish a sculpture; these are two factors that have accentuated the marginalizing of sculptures,” the exhibit’s organizing committee head I Wayan Suardana said, adding that the exhibition would propel local sculptors into the public eye.

The displayed works send a strong signal that local sculptors haven’t lost their creative touch and, most importantly, that the local sculpture scene is not a frozen landscape filled solely with old esthetics and traditional themes.

The works show artists venturing into the esthetic and thematic through various explorations. Some took the traditional styles into new directions, while others made courageous leaps into modernity. All are unified in their struggle to convince the public that their works are not handicrafts.

 “The forms, styles and materials show deliberate efforts to create new things, to introduce new perspectives,” Suardana said.

For instance, with Macan Ompong (Tooth-less Tiger), Ida Bagus Putu Sutama, uses in a cunning way the structure of a wooden sarcophagus traditionally found the Ngaben cremation ritual to denounce the futility of contemporary political power.

Realist works by Made Radiawan, Nyoman Rubig, Made Narta, Kondang Sugito, Ida Bagus Alit and Ketut Muja stand side by side with abstract works by Wayan Agustiawan, Wayan Jana, Gusti Made Lod, Tjokorda Udiana, Made Jana and surrealist sculptures of Made Sukanta Wahyu, Made Sundita, Made Gara and Wayan Arissusila. A leap into contemporary esthetics can be observed in Nyoman Endra, Pande Wayan Mataram, Nyoman Laba, Wayan Sujana Suklu and Wayan Gawiarta’s works.

The exhibition provides an exhilarating narrative on the dynamic and richness of Bali’s sculptural landscape, a terrain that adamantly preserves its roots and is also equally adamant in embracing new esthetics.

BIASA chairman Ida Bagus Alit saw the exhibition from a different angle. In Bali, collaborative projects teaming up artists from different backgrounds — old and young generations, academics and autodidacts — are very rare.

“Synergic relationship and constructive communication among the sculptors have not reached that productive level yet. Naturally, it is very difficult for sculptors to bring up a creative discourse, let alone to make the public aware of the local sculpture scene’s dynamics,” he said, adding that the exhibition will serve as the first step in building that collaborative rapport.

— Photos by JP/I Wayan Sunarta