Research & Background: Reading on Ubud's Art Scene

Rooted in the island's Hindu-Buddhist heritage, Balinese art has evolved from ancient temple carvings and traditional religious paintings to a diverse spectrum of contemporary expressions. Throughout the centuries, Balinese artists have demonstrated a remarkable ability to absorb foreign influences — from Indian aesthetics to Dutch colonial styles — while maintaining a unique artistic identity. Today, Bali is a living canvas where ancient traditions blend with modern interpretations, creating a rich and ever-evolving artistic landscape.

Far smarter and more learned folks have devoted their lives to the history of Balinese art and artists. We have a list below in case you’d like to dive deeper into the literature and academic knowledge surrounding this subject before visiting Ubud Open Studios.

Research & Background: Reading on Balinese Art

1/ Balinese Art: Paintings and Drawings of Bali 1800 - 2010

by Adrian Vickers

“Starting with a discussion of the island's aesthetic traditions and how Balinese art should be viewed and understood, this book goes on to present pre-colonial painting traditions, some of which are still practiced in the village of Kamasan—the home of ‘classical’ Balinese art. However, the main focus is the development of new styles starting in the 1930s and how these gradually evolved in response to the tourist industry that has come to dominate the island. Balinese Art acquaints readers with the masterpieces and master artists of Bali, and the final chapter presents the most important artists who are active today and serves as an introduction to their work."

2/ Bali: The Imaginary Museum: The Photographs of Walter Spies and Beryl de Zoete

This beautiful book contains a photographic record of the work of Walter Spies, a German artist, and Beryl de Zoete, a British writer and dance critic, co-authors of the classic Dance and Drama in Bali (1938). These photographs, many previously unpublished, are chosen from the Horniman Museum Library collection to vividly evoke rural life in Bali, with its dance-drama traditions, and challenge the more lurid aspects of Bali's image in the 1930s.

3/ Balinese Dance, Drama & Music: A Beginner's Guide to the Performing Arts of Bali

This book is a lavishly illustrated introduction to the most popular forms of traditional performing arts in Bali—among the most intricate and spectacular musical and theatrical performances found anywhere. Ideal reading for visitors to the island, as well as anyone interested in Balinese culture, this book presents the history and form of each performance—with 250 watercolor illustrations and full-color photos to aid in identification.

4/ The Epic of Life by Idanna Pucci

An amazing art book featuring the ancient Mahabharata epic that unfolds on 144 painted panels that line the ceiling of the royal court of justice in Klungkung, ancient seat of the Dewa Agung or “King of Kings” on the Indonesian island of Bali. The story fills the divide between different cultures, races, customs, religions, and languages in the name of universal principles.

NOW! Bali has a great list of more Bali art books.

Documentaries, videos and podcasts about Ubud’s art scene

1/ A conversation with Richard Horstman, a keen observer and chronicler of Balinese arts.

His blog is a goldmine of Balinese art information.

2/ Lempad of Bali

by John Darling and Lorne Blair

A re-release of an acclaimed documentary classic by John Darling - A film about the life and death of the 116-year-old Balinese Master-Artist. In April 1978, in a village situated in the fertile central hills of Bali, the island's greatest living artist died at the age of 116. Lempad's longevity was cause enough for wonder, but the magnificent body of art and architecture that he left behind is a greater tribute to an unusual man. He lived his creative life through the most traumatic century of Balinese history.

LEMPAD OF BALI tells the story of this remarkable person against the background of the island's changing fortunes over the past one hundred years. It begins by showing him just before his death and then follows the elaborate preparations for his cremation and the consequent release by fire of his spirit into the next world. A wide selection of Lempad's work is shown including the drawings, paintings, sculpture and architecture which have enriched the cultural life of Bali. As a counterpoint to the art, the story of the island itself is given through the use of archive film and photographs, including the several waves of invasions that it has experienced, occupation by the Dutch and the Japanese and, in more recent times, by international tourists.

3/ The Bali 1928 Project Archives

Repatriated footage from the first films and recordings made of Balinese dance and music.

4/ An overview of the Forge Collection at the Australian Museum

In the 1970s the Australian Museum acquired one of the world’s best collections of Balinese paintings, assembled via research in Bali by Professor Anthony Forge from the Australian National University. The immediate result of this acquisition was the exhibition entitled the ‘Balinese Traditional Paintings’ staged at the Museum in 1978 and accompanied by a catalog in the form of a popular but erudite book written by Forge. The exhibition popularised and explained traditional Balinese paintings to the public. The book remains one of the major references on the subject for students, scholars and Balinese artists.

5/ Google Arts Spotlight on Kamasan Painting

“To understand the particular concept of values of the Balinese paintings one must go back to the history of painting in Bali, to the times when paintings were subservient to the religious needs of the social environment. Painting required as an offering in a religious or to the king and the royal families.”

6/ The Virtual Museum of Balinese Painting

The Bali Cultural Service (Dinas Kebudayaan Bali) has provided valuable support for the project and granted permission to include the relatively unknown public collections in Bali, especially that of the Museum Bali, the island's most important cultural repository. The incorporation of a database of works that belonged to the collection of Leo Haks further enhanced the scope of the project. The project was funded by a grant from the Australian Research Council and was led by the University of Sydney's Adrian Vickers and Peter Worley, together with Siobhan Campbell and staff from Australian Museum, in particular Stan Florek.