Balinese art is a mixture of Indonesian and western technique

Balinese art is a melting pot of cultures and traditions. It has absorbed many elements from different countries, mostly western ones, and made a unique form of art. Despite the fact that creators used to work under the supervision of priests, nowadays they have more freedom and flexibility. Before the produce in specific patterns being anonymous, but now they have created their own individual style.

Kinds of art: painting, stone carving, wood carving and textiles.

Painting is synonymous to the village of Kamasan, as the ruling families had their palaces and temples painted by Sanggings as the painters were called. The painters are inspired by Hindus Epics. Kamasan painting style is also known as 'Wayang' art. Wayang art follows strict rules and guidelines and is a two-dimensional, iconographic representation. The western influence came in Bali in the early ’90. The stone carving is used to decorate temples and palaces. The most worth seeing stone carvings are in the North and the most important of them in Pura Sagen Agung in Ubud. Wood carving like stone carving is featured also in temples and palaces. Stone carvings demonstrate demons, mythical beings and scenes of legendary figures. Bali has a rich industry of textile fabrics although the majority a traveler can find in the shops origin from Java or the islands of Flora and Sumba. Textiles are made of gold and silver and they demonstrate motifs of birds, flowers and butterflies.

Art galleries

The galleries are usually open from 9 till 5 p.m. Most of them are located in Ubud. Agung Rai Museum of Art, Bamboo Gallery and Gaya Fusion of Senses are some of them. Other galleries are Sumertha Gallery, Made Ada Gallery and Warna Natural Handicraft.