KRISNA SUDHARMA’S
BALINESE ARTISTS TO WATCH
PANDE WARDINA
Wardina Pande (b. 1995) is a boundary-pushing artist who defies convention and embraces the unexpected. As part of a new generation of Balinese creatives, Pande's work encompasses alternative mediums, contemporary discourses, and aesthetic values, reflecting his restless spirit and commitment to innovation.
A technology student at ITB STIKOM Bali, Pande adeptly merges art and technology, viewing both as vessels for environmentally conscious creativity and sustainability. His journey began in 2017 when he delved into the intricacies of electronics to repair musical instruments. This experience sparked a passion for exploring the interplay between light and sound pulses, leading to the creation of site-specific installations and edifices.
In Semu Masa Depan (Obscure Future), Pande's sonic art installation, he continues his 'Singing Plant' series, examining the uncertain future of natural environments, protected forests, and green belts often relegated to political rhetoric. Pande's work underscores the inextricable bond between humans and nature, highlighting the life force flowing through plants and its transformation into frequencies that reflect the dynamic evolution of culture. Pande Wardina's thought-provoking art challenges our perceptions of Balinese culture and inspires us to consider the vital role of technology and nature in shaping our collective future.
NYOMAN DHARMAWAN
I Nyoman Gede Darmawan (b.1984) is a known Balinese artist whose work transcends creative play. Darmawan, who was born and nurtured in the artistically renowned village of Pengosekan, Ubud, was exposed to the idea that art is an embodiment of life at an early age. From love and contempt to life and death, his work expresses an immense range of human experiences and emotions.
Darmawan feels that that art, especially painting, may be used to express and document his life's circumstances, including his challenges, tribulations, accomplishments, and victories. His paintings not only document his own experiences, but they also evoke a universal emotion that develops a loving humanistic connection between the artist, his creations, his life, and others, as well as between him and the world.
Drawing on Balinese symbolism, his art often includes the emblems of Lingga and Yoni, which represent both the masculine and feminine aspects. These symbols not only commemorate the coming together of opposites, in addition they also serve as a powerful reminder of the interconnection of all things.
Jemana Murti
Jemana Murti (b.1997) is an Indonesian artist deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Bali. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Murti's diverse artistic practice encompasses painting, sculpture, and large-scale installations. Drawing inspiration from his Balinese upbringing and the island's religious aspects, Murti's work serves as a poignant exploration of cultural identity and preservation.
Phantasma (2022) is a prime example of Murti's thought-provoking creations. This artwork delves into the complex relationship between Bali's cultural treasures and the socioeconomic pressures faced by its people. As Balinese families grapple with the decision to sell ancestral heirlooms and artifacts for survival, Murti poses critical questions about the future of these cultural objects and the implications of entrusting their preservation to machines.
Envisioning a dystopian scenario, Phantasma presents a haunting portrayal of Balinese culture, where traditional artifacts are replaced by soulless, machine-made replicas. Crafted from plastic instead of wood, these objects are devoid of the human touch and the spiritual essence that defines their cultural significance.
Jemana Murti's work stands as a powerful commentary on the fragility of cultural heritage in the face of modernity and globalization. Murti's unique artistic vision, which not only challenges our understanding of Balinese culture but also invites us to reflect on the broader implications of cultural preservation in today's rapidly changing world.
Gede Sukarya
I Gede Sukarya (b. 1995), from Buleleng's ancient village of Bulian, was profoundly influenced by Bali's rich heritage of culture. He won a scholarship to study at the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Denpasar Fine Arts Faculty after winning multiple art competitions in elementary school. Sukarya has explored various mediums throughout his career.
Bali's culture, traditions, and everyday life inspire Sukarya. He utilises seni tatah (chisel art), a traditional Balinese technique used to create sacred effigies of barong, rangda, and wayang. He simplifies Balinese ornamentation for contemporary tastes, inviting people to explore the fascinating illusions and intriguing experiences behind his artwork.
Gede Sukarya's innovative pieces reinterpret Balinese culture and question the role of tradition in modern art.
LUH’DE GITA
Luh'de Gita's (b. 1997) captivating art reflects her constant struggle through modern life. Her surrealistic work explores life's intricacies, whilst her skillful manipulation of shape and colour encourages viewers to explore a realm of endless possibilities, where imagination and reality blend into a captivating tapestry of emotions and sensations. Her art demonstrates how creativity can transcend human constraints and reveal the unlimited potential of the human spirit.
Luh'de's art intuitively explores memory and imagination, inspiring viewers to examine the intriguing origins of her subjects and the mysterious forces that drive her creativity. As she delves into her psyche, a captivating exhibition of interconnection leads to a profound self-realization.
Inspired by her Balinese identity, Luh’de's work is a dynamic interplay of tensions. She is conflicted by Bali's exoticism - though uneasy, she wants to stay close to her heritage; she reimagines "paradise" to suit her vision. The artist's inventiveness and curiosity are fuelled by her Balinese origin and its perceived limitations.
Powerfully juxtaposing intimate experiences against an impersonal paradise, the artworks express her search for identity. The artist's odyssey is a reflection of her internal struggles, and her creations reveal the complex mind of a person trying to understand herself and the all that exists.
KETUT NUGI
Ketut Nugi (b. 1996), an artist whose name echoes across Bali's bustling streets and peaceful temples, is no stranger to the island's paradoxical nature. He uses quiet times to investigate the island's intricate socio-historical landscape. Nugi has long been enamored with the distinctive fusion of tradition and modernity that has come to characterize the Balinese experience.
Nugi's world is Bali in general - he understands that although he lives in a crowded and thrill seeking place, he is still able to find himself alone. In his contemplating spaces, he was moved to learn that the island he was born on is such an oasis of happiness for so many people; his work balances this with an interrogation of the history of tourism and the fundamental identity of Bali, building artistic statements through his artworks. He is a provocateur, forcing us to look past the postcard-perfect scenery, and consider this counterbalance.
NONFRASA GALLERY
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Krisna Sudharma
Nonfrasa was founded in 2021 as a platform dedicated for discovering emerging artists and rediscovering leftfield work from artists in Bali, Indonesia. We explore the artistic range and the context of Bali’s rich art and culture history through a narrative and practice of actively expanding contemporary identities in Bali.
Nonfrasa is an inclusive space dedicated to thought-provoking young artists and to make sure that their voices are heard and listened to amid the cacophony of the domineering echo chambers.
Krisna Sudharma is a designer and artistic director based in Bali, Indonesia. For nearly eight years, he has been focusing on creative direction and consultancy within contemporary practices, using tailormade design as an instrument to actualise the aspirations of multidisciplinary brands.
His artistic direction is informed by Balinese philosophies grounded in the spirit of duality and balance; situating the world as it is, rather than how
it ought to be. Drawing on the intrinsic properties of vernacular design and reflexive commerce, visual identities are forged organically, unbound by conventional structures, rules, boundaries.
Whether unreleased or familiar, every project is seen an aphorism to learn, a space for curiosity, collaboration, conversation.
Krisna Sudharma has led a series of creative ventures within the design, art, music, apparel, and hospitality space. Most recently, Sudharma founded Nonfrasa, a contemporary art gallery dedicated to discovering emerging, and rediscovering senescent leftfield Balinese artists. It explores the artistic range of Balinese creatives in the context of the island’s rich and cultural history through a narrative lens with the intention of expanding contemporary identities.
Nonfrasa Gallery
Jl. Sanggingan No.21, Ubud