“Balinese Art Treasures of the 1940s: The Rediscovery of a Collection” by Francine Brinkgreve, David J. Stuart-Fox (eds.)

 

The golden deer struck by Rama’s arrow.
Anak Agoeng Gede Raka (Mas, 1910? - ?)
Kayu cempaka, Champak wood. | TM-3525-106

 
 
 

BALINESE ART TREASURES
OF THE 1940s

The Rediscovery of a Collection

 

by Francine Brinkgreve
David J. Stuart-Fox (eds.)

 
 
Balinese Art Treasures of the 1940s by Francine Brinkgreve David J. Stuart Fox
 
 

Published by Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the Netherlands
& C. Zwartenkot Art Books — Leiden | 2019.

 
 

This beautifully illustrated book presents a unique collection of modern Balinese art from the 1940s. Formed under difficult circumstances at a time of occupation and revolution, the collection comprises mainly paintings and woodcarvings, as well as silver objects, decorative metalwork and textiles. In all, some 37 artists are represented, some famous, others lesser known or unknown.

Among the artists are important members of the pre-war Pita Maha artists association: painters Ida Bagoes Made Nadera, Anak Agoeng Gede Meregeg, Ida Bagoes Made Poleng, I Goesti Ketoet Kobot, Ida Bagoes Made Togog, I Wajan Tohjiwa, I Made Djata, and I Goesti Made Debelog; and woodcarvers Ida Bagoes Njana, Anak Agoeng Gede Raka, and I Tama.

Besides the artworks themselves, the book provides the unusual history of this collection. Formed in 1947 by the State of East Indonesia (later part of the Republic of Indonesia), with the support of its Prime Minister, Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung, it was exhibited in Denpasar and Makassar and then in 1948 in Amsterdam under the title Oost-Indonesische Kunst (East Indonesian Art). In 1955 it was left in the care of Amsterdam’s Tropenmuseum.

 
 
 

Sutasoma and the naga.
Ida Bagoes Njana (Mas, 1911 - 1985)
Kayu nangka, Jackfruit wood. | TM-3525-82

Praying woman seated on a rock.
Ida Bagoes Njana (Mas, 1911 - 1985)
Kayu nangka, Jackfruit wood. | TM-3525-89

 

The 12 wood carvings by Ida Bagoes Njana in the collection.

Rawana.
I Meregeg (unknown)
Kayu cempaka, Campak wood. | TM3523-92

A large heron.
Anonymous artist from Peliatan.
Kayu waru lot, Wood of the Sea hibiscus. | TM-2525-103

Mythic figures (Ganesha?)
Ida Bagoes Njana (Mas, 1911 - 1985)
Kayu nangka, Jackfruit wood. | TM-3525-90

Goat.
I Tama (Nyuhkuning, 1915? - 1994)
Kayu suwar, Wood of the rain tree. | TM-3525-97

Two buffalos wallowing in the mud.
I Tama (Nyuhkuning, 1915? - 1994)
Kayu suwar, Wood of the rain tree. | TM-3525-98

 

Pandu is struck by an ascetic’s curse.
Ida Bagoes Belawa (Tebesaya, 1917 - 2000)
Gouache on carton. | TM-3525-15

The fight between Sugriwa and Subali.
Ida Bagoes Made Togog (Batuan, 1913 - 1989)
Gouache on paper. | TM-3525-25

 

Cowherd.
I Dewa Gede Tjoekit (Batuan, 1912 - 1961)
Ink on paper. | TM-3525-2

The battle between Kumbakarna and the monkey army of Hanuman.
I Dewa Njoman Tijita (Batuan, 1927 - 2010)
Ink on paper. | TM-3525-22

Mahadewa.
I Dewa Gede Raka Poedja (Padangtegal, 1930? - 2016)
Ink on paper. | TM-3525-42

Dewa Ruci descends to help Bima as he battles the sea monster.
I Goesti Made Debelog (Denpasar, 1906 - 1986)
Ink on paper glued onto wood panel. | TM-3525-56

The assembly of the forest animals.
I Dewa Kompiang Pasek (Batuan, 1928 - 2009)
Ink on paper. | TM-3525-54

Bubuksah and Gagang Aking
I Wajan Taweng (Batuan, 1926 - 2005)
Ink on paper. | TM-3525-37

 

Contributors

 
 

Koos (J.H.) van Brakel studied Art and Archaeology of South and Southeast Asia at the University of Amsterdam. He is former keeper of the collections at the Tropenmuseum Amsterdam and the National Museum of World Cultures. He has curated many exhibitions, including ones on Dutch East Indies paintings, and has published widely on the collections of the Tropenmuseum.

 

Soemantri Widagdo studied chemical engineering in Indonesia and the United States. His first visit to Bali in 1994 marked the beginning of his research into Balinese art; he regards the late Ida Bagus Made Poleng as his principle teacher. He became Chief Foreign Curator and International Liaison, Museum Puri Lukisan, from 1995 to 2015. In 2016 he set up the foundation Yayasan TiTian Bali with its central aim of helping and promoting emerging Balinese artists, and remains the Chair of the Advisory Board.

 
 
 

Francine Brinkgreve is curator for Insular Southeast Asia at the National Museum of World Cultures. She is a graduate (Ph.D. 2016) in cultural anthropology at Leiden University. Her field of interest is the cultures of Indonesia, with special emphasis on Bali. She is the author and/or editor of many books and articles on Indonesia.

 

David J. Stuart-Fox was a longtime resident in Bali in the 1970s and 1980s. He received his Ph.D. from the Australian National University in 1987. From 1991 to 2013 he was a librarian at Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden. He is the author of many books on Balinese subjects.

 
 
 

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