In March, the Alila Manggis resort, set on the tranquil east coast of Bali, hosted a 5-day artists-in-residency program titled “Bridging the Artistic Realm”, culminating with the opening of an exhibition, “Art Builds Bridges”, which will run until May 27.

The show features paintings, photographs and sculptures by four international artists–James Wilkins, Laila Azra, Michael Daube and Silvana Sutanto–along with four works by primary school students from the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), which is based in Singapore.

Curated by Wilkins, and featuring a grouping of smaller and larger works; the exhibition supports the UWCSEA’s “Global Concerns Bali Bridges” initiative.

Bali Bridges Global Concerns is a service project created by UWCSEA that has a curriculum combining education, philanthropy and service. Bali Bridges was founded to support the non-profit Whidya Asih foundation, which was established in 1975.

Widhya Asih supports communities living on or under the poverty line by sponsoring children through their early years of education to university as well as running seven children’s homes and community development programs.

UWCSEA established its partnership with Widhya Asih in 2006, providing material support to improve existing facilities in the childcare centers.

“The event came to fruition after a discussion with Alila Manggis GM [general manager] Hemal Jain,” art and charity event organizer Henny Scott, an Indonesian resident of Singapore whose son attends UWCSEA, said. “Alila Manggis has been a supporter of Bali Bridges events in Singapore for four years and we wish to do more together. There is a good fit, combining art and philanthropy at Alila. With an increasing number of visitors to East Bali, it is important to increase their exposure to arts and culture.”

Hemal expressed a similar sentiment. “We believe in giving back to the community and are excited by this collaboration of art and the art of giving. We are proud to bring the culture of art and philanthropy back to East Bali.”

Participating artist Michael Daube, who is also founded CITTA, a charity that empowers at-risk communities across the world by creating schools, hospitals and women’s cooperatives, described some of his work in Bali. “During our stay, each artist offered morning and evening classes to Alila guests in watercolor and photography.”

Daube’s The Myth of Er, a blue mouth-blown glass form made from voice-sound patterns, linked together and hanging down into a pond, was flexible, organic, flowing-and an exhibition highlight.

“I loved working with the children, both from Singapore and Widhya Asih orphanage in Singaraja North Bali, to produce some very fun murals upon the orphanages’ exterior walls,” Michael added.

“Art Builds Bridges” is the debut exhibition of Indonesian photographer Silvana Sutanto, who is the recipient of numerous prestigious regional and international awards.

Silvana’s excellent black-and-white photographic studies of nature and wildlife have taken her to the farthest corners of the planet.

On display at the exhibition were her Storm of Wings, which captured the moment when hundreds of birds set off in flight, and Zebra #18, which presents a herd of zebras riverside, offering their distinctive black and white stripes as the key visual feature.

Inspired to explore the unknown, artist Laila Azra created Brother 1, 2 & 3–expressive oil paintings that added dynamic color and abstract flowing forms to the diversity and strength of the exhibition.

Meanwhile, US artist (and part-time Bali resident) James Wilkins exhibited a number of luminous digital images printed on aluminum, his subject matter ranging from abstract geometric forms to Zen-inspired compositions of nature.

“The best art works are constantly humming their message into the mind of the audience. Like a mantra that repeats itself subconsciously, the power of art is unceasing,” Wilkins said.

On facilitating workshops with Alila guests, he adds: “The sharing of a few simple skills can open the floodgates of many artworks for individuals who may now be set free from being stopped.”

Of the four works donated and done by UWCSEA students, “A Random Group of Objects”, in its simplicity of composition and forms, was a delightful addition to the show.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the larger pieces will be donated to Whidya Asih, while the proceeds from the sale of the smaller works by the four artists will go to the foundation.

Alila Manggis Bali
Buitan, Manggis, Karangasem, Bali
Telp: +6236341011
alilahotels.com/manggis
@alila_manggis

Popular

Bali to clamp down on illegal foreign-owned businesses

West Java starts curfew for students, cuts school days

On World Environment Day, you can help end plastic pollution