Nyoman Gunarsa was born in Klungkung, Bali in 1944. He grew up in the Kamasan tradition, an older tradition that flourished in the Klungkung courts in the 17th century, far from the newer Ubud and Batuan traditions which were popular on the island at that time. Instead of developing his artistic style in the region, he left for Yogyakarta after completing junior high school to enroll in the Indonesian Fine Arts Academy (ASRI). There, he studied under Abas Alibasyah, Widayat and Fajar Sidik and became an instructor at the academy after his graduation.
His career skyrocketed ever since. He received Best Painting Award at the National Biennial Exhibition in 1978 and 1980 and participated in numerous international exhibitions in Japan, Europe, and the United States. His paintings are displayed in many museum collections around the world. The prolific painter also established his own museums, The Nyoman Gunarsa Indonesian Contemporary Painting Museum in Yogyakarta and The Classical Balinese Painting Museum in Klungkung, Bali. For his efforts in developing and preserving the visual arts, he received the Dharma Kusuma Award from the Balinese Government in 1995.
Nyoman Gunarsa’s paintings are highly expressive and dynamic. He is well known for his flamboyant, energetic twist on the elements of Balinese iconography, costumes, and ceremonies. His canvas resembles the energy of Balinese gamelan orchestra, where the brushstrokes seem to portray rhythm in the painting, while the colors that he use appear to represent the different types of musical instruments.
No comments:
Post a Comment