Traditional Kamasan Painting

2010-01-08T04:58:00.001-08:00

It would not feel complete if short account on what tradition actually underlies the profession of an artist in Bali especially, painter, carver, and architect. These main art works were often a one-man master. Visit our new blog about Bali deals for information about Bali. Since to a house or a temple constructor will need those three elements of expertise. So, it is important to bring a short account on thought or concepts that underlay an artist's profession.
One teaching of Bali Hindu worth mentioning is about how one can worship and understand god. Those who cannot use his intellectual contemplation to understand gods, is given a way by just dedicating her/himself for working, no further enquiry is needed. As an architect is to design the temple, as a musician is to play the music during ceremony, as a dancer is to dance during ceremony and so on. This way of worship is called “Bhakti Marga” literally means self-dedication way. This teaching has been always like a fertilizer of Balinese arts. When 95% Balinese were illiterate, it must all of them have chosen this way. This teaching has formed a living tradition, which is still can be seen until now. To become a painting artist he must understand the rules of Silva Castra, Manawa Siksa Wayang, and Kusuma Dewa scriptures. It is not found so far the professional name of a painting artist in Balinese. To become a carver has also to understand above scriptures plus three other scriptures such as Prasasti Sangging, Dharmaning Sangging and Pawisik Mpu Sangging Lobangkara. A carver in Balinese is called an “Empu” or “ Sangging” A sangging whenever he add to his expertise the knowledge on Astabumi and Asta Patali, as the manuals, than he become an architect. An architect in Balinese is called an “Undagi” Beside the technical aspects Balinese architect must know its ‘ corresponding religious ceremony. These scriptures are not precisely known when they were written, except Silva Castra is an Indian Hindu scripture, which is believed to have been created as old as Ramayana Epic.

Kamasan Village the Village of Painter

2010-01-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

The classical style of wayang painting of Kamasan or lontar (palm-leaf manuscript) was inheited by the kingdom of Klungkung and can still be found there. We have other blog about Bali deals , get more information about Bali at Bali deals.
Klungkung is situated east of Denpasar. It is a 60 minutes drive to Semarapura, the capital of Klungkung. Three tourist destinations along the same route and beyond Klungkung include Besakih, Candidasa and Goa Lawah.
The Regional Government of Klungkung has specified 18 tourist attractions in its region, including Nusa Penida and Kamasan village. Kamasan Village is 2 km from Semarapura and takes 10 minutes travel time to reach.
What is the attraction of this village? The head of Kamasan Village, I Nyoman Sidharta Yoga explains that the village is the centre for Balinese cultural studies. Every hamlet in the Kamasan Village has particular characteristic attributes in the field of handicrafts.
As soon as one enters this village, art shops will be encountered around the small town of Sangging. Here, one can see wayang paintings in the Kamasan style and objects made from bullet shells by blacksmiths. Ritual paraphernalia, guest room ornaments and so forth can also be found, which are characteristic of Kamasan Village.
Administratively, this village is divided into four hamlets. Most (80%) of the inhabitants living at Kacang Dawa earn their livelihood as farmers and at Sangging Hamlet as blacksmiths and painters of classical wayang in the Kamasan style. Meanwhile, the Pande Mas hamlet is the hub of blacksmiths and in the Tabanan hamlet, 60% of its inhabitants work as blacksmiths and the remaining 40% as farmers.
More than that, as added by Sidharta who was born in 1953, Kamasan Village also is the centre of “Wayang Kamasan” and Balinese language studies. “In Bali, the most complete composition of Balinese language lies in the Klungkung regency. I’d like to make Kamasan an urban village, however it sould still reflect its original rural atmosphere by preserving the potency of existing nature,” he adds.
Undertakings for the development of tourism at Kamasan Village have been carried out by Sidharta. One of these is providing English and Japanese courses to his people, mainly the primary school students and youngsters who are interested in the tourism field. In addition, a program of mutual assistance to support the cleanliness and charm of Kamasan Village has been re-activated. Facilities supporting the development of Kamasan as a tourism village include villa style accommodations at villagers’ family compounds, road access, art shops and restaurants.

kamasan Village

Traditional Kamasan Painting

Kamasan Village the Village of Painter