One of the works of Balinese art craft that has strong roots and has a long history is Balinese Painting. Works with high artistic value are known as one of the strong characteristics of Bali, and are much sought after by visitors or tourists, from local to foreign tourists.
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History of Balinese Painting
Starting from prehistoric times when painting had begun to develop which became a means of its own ritual for people at that time.
Continuing to the pre-colonial period, where at this time painting was a visualization of religious rituals there, to decorate temples or upper caste houses in Bali.
Paintings at that time depicted many gods, heroes, epics or legendary figures and figures. While the dominant colors produced from the painting are red, white, black and golden colors which are the embodiment of the symbol of belief. The red color is a symbol for the god Brahma, the white color is a symbol for the god Vishnu and the black color is a symbol for the god Shiva.
At this time the Poleng motif also appeared, which is easily recognized by the black and white checkered motif which is still often used today. This Poleng motif symbolizes the 4 cardinal directions which are related to the relationship between humans and nature.
Continuing into the colonial period, where there was influence with the entry of Javanese kingdoms that controlled Bali, this also had an impact on the existing themes of Balinese painting. Various works of art are inspired by Javanese culture, but not all of them are swallowed whole, because Balinese characteristics are still strong and can be seen in every work of Balinese painting.
This makes the motifs and works of Balinese painting richer with a variety of existing themes. The peak of the era of painting in Bali occurred at this time, especially with the Kamasan painting style which was so popular and well-known.
Continuing with the modern style of painting, marked by the arrival of the Dutch in Indonesia. With the arrival of a new culture, new colors will also be added to art in Bali. One of them that gave a new color was the emergence of a European-Balinese art group called Pita Maha.
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Balinese Painting Style
The long history of Balinese painting makes the appearance of works of art with their own unique Balinese characteristics with touches of change according to the era. The following Balinese painting styles exist:
1. Ubud style
This Ubud style of painting has dynamic compositional processing, including in the cultivation of perspectives and in the selection of colors. This style also gets influence from the West through the use of materials and painting tools, for example, watercolour, oil paint and tempera. The influence of the western style can also be seen in the appearance of light-dark gradations in the existing paintings.
2. Rock Style
This style of painting displays the results of paintings with the appearance of a spooky and tense night atmosphere. Supported again by the appearance of incarnated ghosts, beast monsters, witches or blood-sucking corpses. Human figure objects are shown with frontal illustrations, plus other objects that appear, such as mountains, trees, leaves, appear to create a perspective impression.
3. Sanur Style
Balinese painting in the sanur style displays works inspired by the beautiful sea and beaches of Bali as well as the daily life of the Balinese people. Many also depict marine life, including animals that live in the sea, as well as activities when playing on the beach or sea.
