Art Spaces in Bali
When thinking of Bali’s premier art along with also cultural destinations, immediately the tourist Mecca of Ubud springs to mind. For those treading the art map, the well-known museums Puri Lukisan, Neka, along with also ARMA (the Agung Rai Museum of Art) display fine collections of Balinese traditional art, along with some modern along with also contemporary Indonesian art.
Within the constantly evolving art landscape of Ubud, galleries along with also art spaces come along with also go. The post-2008 Indonesian art boom economics has taken its toll along with also has led to the closure of some renowned fine art galleries in Bali.
In recent years however, private along with also artist-driven initiatives – art spaces – which operate outside of the commercial gallery design, have become the essential art infrastructure behind the development of contemporary art on the island.
Attracting the non-commercial along with also experimental artists thriving on dialogue along with also creativity, art spaces are plugged into social media (vital to the brand new paradigm of art organizations connecting them 24/7 to the global community, a bonus with the wealth of information available on the Internet). You can check them out via Facebook or Instagram prior to your arrival along with also Google maps will help in finding the location.
Two icons of Ubud must be mentioned: Sika Contemporary
Fifteen minutes north of Ubud, on Jalan Sri Wedari, Junjungan, on the right side inside rice fields, look out for the big white installation ‘Not For Sale’. Balinese landowner, social activist along with also artist Gede Sayur along with his friends established Luden House in 2009. Committed to art that has a social along with also environmental conscience, Luden began as an art space along with also gallery to support the development of contemporary art via exhibitions, workshops along with also events.
Luden House Ubud | Photo Courtesy of Richard Horstman
Not For Sale evolved in 2010 in response to the alarming rate of Balinese agricultural land being sold for development along with also has since grown into a common social movement, which has secured in marking Luden House on the Bali map. When the Luden family are not organizing events, often for children, they are painting or creating art products by sustainable products along with also wearables to sell, that has a percentage of sales going to local farmers’ associations.
Cata Odata Exhibition 2015 | Photo Courtesy of Cata Odata
In Penestanan, Cata Odata introduces a brand new design of infrastructure to Bali, combining artist along with also gallery management, residency programmes along with also internships along with exhibitions along with also a community space for discussions along with also workshops. Established in 2014, the space is actually the brainchild of two dedicated along with also hardworking East Javanese characters: Ratna Odata along with also Djunaidi Kenyut. Kenyut has many years’ experience as an exhibiting artist, managing events along with also spaces in Bali along with also Surabaya. He along with also Odata promote Indonesian artists based in East Java along with also Bali while encouraging global connections along with also exchanges.
Upcoming events include ‘Bare Journal #3’ artist in residency programme. This specific requires participating artists to create a daily journal, complete with their thoughts, ideas along with also sketches. These are then exhibited alongside their work to inspire deeper levels of connectivity between artists along with also the community, while granting insights into the machinations of the artist’s mind. Periodically they offer lodgings for those curious to know more about This specific young art space along with also its workings.
Ketemu Project Space | Photo Courtesy of Ketemu Project Space
The husband along with also wife team of Balinese artist Budi Agung Kuswara along with also Singaporean artist Samantha Tio drive Ketemu Project Space in Batu Bulan, 30 minutes south of Ubud. Dedicated to engaging a wider audience along with also individual sectors of the public arena, Ketemu embarks on large projects drawing upon their local, national along with also regional networks. Inviting artists along with also curators to participate in their artists in residency programme, Ketemu’s 2016 project, Merayakan Murni promises to be a landmark event. The occasion will celebrate one of Indonesia’s most important female artists, Balinese painter I GAK Murniasih (1966-2006), who was instrumental in forging brand new thematic grounds in Balinese along with also Indonesian art. The project gathers artists along with also writers to create works in response to the legacy of Murni along with also will culminate in an exhibition in July.
TiTian Art Space | Photo Courtesy of Richard Horstman
Launched on January 29 in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the influential Pita Maha artists collective, the TiTian Bali Foundation is actually located at the TiTian Art Space in Jalan Bisma, Ubud. Driven by a revolutionary vision for Balinese art on the local along with also global stage, the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of Yayasan TiTian Bali, Soemantri Widagdo says, “TiTian Bali is actually being founded in an effort to ‘reframe’ the potential of Balinese visual arts with the belief which in order to flourish they need to be integrated into a creative economy.” Aiming to be the leading hub for Balinese visual arts by 2021, Yayasan TiTian Bali is actually building a brand new ecosystem for Balinese art for the 21st century through education along with also brand new pathways of engagement.
Fast Facts: Ubud’s Art Spaces
Cata Odata
Call: +62 81212126096
Email: cataodata@gmail.com
Website: www.cataodata.com
Location: Opposite the Pura Dalem temple in Penestanan Kelod, Ubud. Look for the big white building on the left.
Features: Quarterly exhibitions along with also random feisty gatherings. The three-level venue is actually always open along with also welcoming. Check out their online store of art products along with also wearables: www.arcimisi.com
TiTian Bali Art Space
Call: +62 82214400200
Email: swidagdo@yayasantitianbali.org
Website: www.titianartspace.com
Location: Jalan Bisma no. 88, Ubud. Travel way down to the end of Jalan Bisma along with also look for an aqua blue building on the left side.
Features: An experimental playground along with also global launch pad for young talented Balinese artists. Backed by local along with also international foundations with members whose experience is actually second to none. On display inside gallery is actually some of the finest Balinese traditional along with also contemporary art on the island.
Ketemu Project Space
Call: +62 82144097060
Email: meet@ketemuprojectspace.com
Website: www.ketemuprojectspace.com
Location: Perumahan Taman Asri no. 3A, Batu Bulan, Gianyar. Head east 500 metres along Jalan Batuyang, on the right look for the entry to Perumahan Taman Asri.
Features: A savvy along with also professional team, that has a compact along with also cosy facility. Regular events open to the public. Out to raise the bar in what’s possible within artist driven spaces in Bali.
Luden House
Call: +62 8122772137
Email: gedesayur@yahoo.co.uk
Location: Jalan Sri Wedari, Junjungan, Ubud.
Features: A grassroots local art experience which brings social along with also environmental awareness to the fore. Regular events – big along with also tiny – a Great time is actually always guaranteed. Look out for the soon-to-open Balinese warung with tasty local delicacies.
Comments
Art Spaces in Bali
Art Spaces in Bali