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7 Variety of Balinese Arts

Visa Bali Info – Balinese Arts

The province of Bali, also known as the Island of the Gods, has natural beauty and cultural wealth.

Bali’s popularity has even now spread throughout the world. Anyone who visits it not only enjoys the tourist scenery but also listens to traditional Balinese art performances.

It doesn’t feel right if you don’t discuss traditional Balinese art. Starting from dance, painting, sculpture and other performing arts. Make Bali so filled with the elegance of culture and customs.

Maybe what we know is only the Kecak dance, it turns out that there are many traditional arts in Bali. This time we will discuss the variety of Balinese arts that we must know.

The Influence of the Forming of Balinese Art

The lives of its citizens are very concerned with maintaining the balance of nature. As for the culture that includes customs and arts, Balinese people receive a lot of influence from its history.

Such as the control of Majapahit in the 8th century to the 14th century AD, then the entry of Hinduism afterward through Indian merchants.

Hinduism has a great influence in the formation of traditional Balinese arts. Where almost all arts have sacred values, holiness, and religious elements in them.

In the midst of modern times with an increasing tourism sector, traditional Balinese arts are not only held for religious rituals. But also as a show that is entertaining and educating tourists.

7 Variety of Balinese Arts

  1. Kamasan Fine Arts
balinese art
Ig by @lukisan_sukawati

Fine art is a branch of art that deals with points, lines, planes, colors, space (volume), and textures.

Kamasan’s traditional paintings are often used as examples of the resilience of traditional Balinese culture in the face of globalization and the emergence of new forms of art and material culture with a strong traditional identity.

Kamasan art received an international award from France in 1930 for bringing Kamasan art to the world.

Therefore, Kamasan painting is very unique and its authenticity is maintained because of the blend in Indonesian culture itself.

2. Balinese Shadow Puppet

balinese art
Ig by @sanggar_wayang_yudistira

Balinese wayang kulit shows have two types of story themes, namely spiritual themes and entertainment themes. The theme of spiritual performances is very sacred by Hindus in Bali. At certain religious ceremonies, while shadow puppet shows with entertainment themes are usually found in folk parties and have contemporary storylines and are often related to social issues that develop in society.

Balinese wayang kulit shows can be divided into two types of performances, namely the weak wayang and the peteng puppet. Weak puppets are usually performed during the day. On the other hand, peteng means night, indicating that wayang peteng is usually performed at night.

3. Arja

Arja is a traditional Balinese art that is similar to opera or can also be called a dance drama. Arja which contains the story of the banner has existed since the 18th century AD.

The opera actor Arja dances, sings, and dialogues according to the storyline.

4. Bondres

balinese art

Bondres is a traditional comedy sketch that tickles. To support the comedy, Bondres actors often wear funny costumes and masks.

5. Kecak dance

balinese art
Ig by @fuzaphoto

The initial purpose of doing Kecak Dance is a form of communication with God and ancestral spirits in conveying hopes.

The Kecak dance is performed by dozens of male dancers sitting in a circle. Hand movements pointing upwards while chanting the word “cak” repeatedly become the hallmark of this dance.

6. Drama Gong

Drama Gong is a traditional drama whose performances are accompanied by musical instruments such as gongs or gamelan.

This blend of traditional Balinese culture with modern western culture presents performances in a contemporary classic style.

The uniqueness of Drana Gong is the use of dialogue language, which is generally Sanskrit, or classical Balinese.

Drama Gong takes historical stories with the theme of love, heroic stories, and so on. Only on certain days and special ceremonies that include this Drama Gong performance.

7. Sculpture

balinese art
Ig by @ganesha_art_bali

If you go to Bali and in certain areas see statues that stand firmly, then these statues are the work of a sculptor in Bali.

One of them is the GWK Statue or the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. The statue is 121 meters high and 60 meters wide is made of a mixture of steel and copper weighing 4000 tons.

Standing in the cultural park area in the Ungasan area, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali. This statue took a long time in the construction process, which is about 28 years.

The GWK statue itself was made by a sculptor from the island of the gods, I Nyoman Nuarta.

 

There is nothing wrong when you come to Bali, first to know the variety of cultural arts in Bali and hopefully the article above is useful for you.

Bali Visa Agency : www.visa4bali.com – Experienced specialists managing the entire application process from start to finish.

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