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Bali, one of the world’s delights, is an island in southern Indonesia - one of the Lesser Sunda Islands,
in the Indian Ocean. It is situated
between the island of Java to the west, from
which it is separated by Bali Strait, and the island of Lombok to the east, from which it is separated by Lombok Strait. Bali is 145 km (90 mi) long and
80 km (50 mi) wide. The principal cities are the northern port of Singaraja and Denpasar, the
capital, near the southern coast. Mountain ranges cross the island from east
to west. The highest point on the island is Mount Agung (3,142 m/10,308 ft), a
volcano that erupted in March 1963. In the south the land descends to form
an alluvial plain, watered by shallow rivers, dry in the dry season and
overflowing whenever there are periods of heavy rains.
Economically and
culturally, Bali is one of the most important islands of Indonesia. Rice is
grown on irrigated, terraced hillsides; other crops include sugarcane,
coffee, copra, tobacco, fruits, and vegetables. Cattle and hogs are also
raised. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in wood carving, and
in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver, and other
metals. The women of Bali are noted for their traditional dancing and for their skills in weaving
cloth of gold and silver threads, as well as for embroidering silk and
cotton clothing. The principal religion on the island of Bali is a variation of Hinduism
that incorporates Polynesian religious rites.
Bali was first visited by the Dutch in 1597, but Dutch rule was not firmly
established until 1908. In 1946, after the Japanese occupation of the island
during World War II, Bali was
included in the newly formed state of East Indonesia, becoming part of the
United States of Indonesia in 1948. In 1950 Bali became part of the unified
republic of Indonesia.
Bali
is so picturesque that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painted
backdrop: rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps… volcanoes soar
through the clouds… the forests are lush and tropical…
…. And the beaches are
lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Bali covers an area of 5,623 sq km (2,171 sq mi), the estimated population is
3,091,200; the Capital City is Denpasar (pop
370,000). Its people are 95% ethnic Balinese, plus a Java minority.
Languages spoken are Bahasa Bali, Bahasa Indonesia and English in the
tourist areas. The religion is 95% Balinese Hindu, with Muslim and Christian
minorities.
Balinese Artisans
Artistically, Bali is a
melting pot of cultures and traditions. The Balinese have a natural capacity
for absorbing different cultural elements to blend them with their own to
produce dynamic new hybrids. Over the years Bali has been the recipient of
numerous influences: Chinese, Buddhist, Indian, Hindu, Javanese and most
recently, Western. For centuries artists and craftsmen in Bali worked under
the patronage of the priests and ruling classes decorating palaces and
temples. The artists themselves were anonymous, never signing their work and
usually living together in artists' 'villages'.
Generally the artists did
not have much room for personal expression as their designs followed strict
aesthetic and religious guidelines. With the arrival of European artists at
the start of this century, this soon began to change and artists started
developing their own individual styles.
Wood
Carving
Balinese artists are world renowned for
their skill in carving wood and painting representations of the local
mythical beings. Wood carving, like stone carving, has
traditionally been featured largely in
temple and palace architecture with little freestanding 'sculpture' work
produced commercially. Immaculately carved demons and mythical beings
decorate pillars, door panels, lintels and window shutters with the aim of
protecting the buildings from evil intruders. Scenes of legendary figures
placed within floral decor set a more pleasant and educational tone. When
producing tools and objects for everyday use, sculptors had a much freer
hand in choosing subject matter. With the arrival of European influences,
wood carving started to develop along more innovative and commercial lines.
Although there have been noteworthy
carvers, for example; I Nyoman Cokot, Ida Bagus Nyana and Ketut Nongos,
artistic integrity has suffered somewhat as a result of whole villages
specializing in producing certain styles of work. The village of Mas near
Ubud is best known for its carvings of female figures, Buddhas, characters
from Hindu epics and the traditional Topeng and Wayang Wong masks.
Here a man in the village of Pujung, near Ubud, paints masks.
Sources:
Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation.
All rights reserved.
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