- As was clearly demonstrated between 1930 and 60, Western
points of view and artistic training dramatacally changed the style
and content of painting in Bali. What will the advent of computer technlogy,
and it's access to the world at large do to the creative community in Ubud?
And what influence can digital information about Balinese art have on the
rest of the world?
Suteja Neka believes the computer and it's associated technologies are nescessary for Indonesia to progress, both artistically, and as a nation. "Right now, and over the past 40 years, visitors to Bali have become our ambassadors to the outside world. We need further communication to continue to grow, computers help us become better-known, and the world better-known to us. This can be a positive influence for our artists" He warns, however, "We have to pay attention to integrating the good influences of technology, and turning the bad away." Agung Rai agrees, "Bali is a spiritual island. We have beliefs about powerful beings; The Creator, the Protector, and the Destroyer. For all things, including computers, we try to take ideas and techniques that help us Create. We still Protect the good things, and utilize the Destroyer against things that adversely effect us. It's part of our culture, our way of life."
Christine Sumertha disagrees. I asked her what would happen if someone put a computer and a teacher in a remote village in Bali? "I think it would be ignored. Balinese society is so focused on the family and community, that the computer, despite it's access to the outside world, cannot be integrated into that tight family structure." She may be right. Just outside my cottage a crowd of children arrives everyday as local men build a huge Ramadan figure for an upcoming celebration. The internet, although exposing the user to the entire world, is a more individualized, less group activity, and clearly focused outside the immediate community. Futhermore, readily accessible computers for the majority of Balinese society is still a far away dream.
However, Western values and style have greatly changed contemporary Bali. And these changes have, in turn, effected the work of painters. Han Snell, is an expatriate Dutch artist who arrived in Ubud in 1949. Snell took as his subject Balinese women, and they remained in his paintings until the last four or five years. Early Snel work is representational, fine portraits and scenes inspired by life around him. His work became more impressionistic and abstract through the 1970's and 80's. Since the mid-1990's Snel has turned to entirely abstract painting. Many people are critical of this change, thinking the earlier work was better.
- Carin and Dolf Versteegh, friends
of Snel for ten years have discussed this topic with him. "Han says
that his painting subject has changed because the Bali he painted in the
earlier years is gone. Now Balinese girls wear jeans and t-shirts with
Western logos emblazoned on them. Those images don't inspire him like before,
they're fantasy, and he no longer chooses to use those ideas."
Some artists still choose to paint traditional marketplace scenes, like the early Ubud style paintings. But the reality of today's culture is evident: Grandmothers wearing Sarongs, but t-shirt tops, and young children swilling down drinks from distinctive Coca-Cola bottles. Western culture is flooding Bali, with arguments both for and against its continuance.
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© (1998) James Waldron Design -- Waldron@interport.net