News Archive

A 400 year-old Balinese painting tradition will be workshopped at The University of Western Australia during an art exhibition that will officially open on Indonesian Independence Day.

Kamasan painting, still practised in the village of Kamasan near Klungkung in eastern Bali, will be one of the highlights of the Truly Bagus (Truly Wonderful) exhibition to be held at UWA's Cullity Gallery in the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts.  The exhibition coincides with the visit of staff from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Denpasar - part of the ongoing academic and cultural cooperation between the two institutions.

Truly Bagus features digitally reproduced works including photography, paintings, ceramics and craft from ISI's Faculty of Fine Arts and Design.  During the exhibition, ISI's Vice Rector I Gede Arya Sugiartha and his colleagues will talk about the practicalities and philosophy behind Balinese creative drive during a free, one-day seminar and workshop open to members of the public.

Exhibition co-coordinator and Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Paul Trinidad said he looked forward to welcoming the ISI Denpasar delegation to the University next week.

"The cooperation between ALVA and ISI has been going on for about four years now, with a range of academic and cultural exchanges, including exhibitions, collaborations and student exchanges, taking place during that time," he said.

"We are very excited about the upcoming ISI visit, and see it as an opportunity to learn from our Indonesian counterparts, and strengthen the developing relationship between our institutions.

"We hope fellow academics, students and anyone with an interest in Indonesian culture, or an appreciation for the arts, will come and enjoy the Truly Bagus Exhibition, or take part in the seminar and workshop day.  This promises to be a truly unique experience."

The Truly Bagus Exhibition will be opened on Monday 16 August and will close on Friday 3 September.  Members of the public are welcome to attend the official opening which will take place at the Cullity Gallery between 6pm and 8:30pm on Tuesday 17 August.  Balinese dances, the Jauh Manis and the Topeng Tua , will be performed at the official opening by dancers from ISI.  The seminar and workshop day is from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 18 August.  The Gallery is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

For more information about the exhibition, or to RSVP your attendance to the opening or seminar and workshop day, phone (+61 8) 6488 2582.

Media references

Assistant Professor Paul Trinidad (+61 8)  6488 7177
(UWA School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts)
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716