The vibrant culture of the island of Bali has produced some of the richest and most exquisite art forms the world has known.  The arts in Bali are, as Margaret Mead has said, "imbedded deep in the form of the simplest acts of everyday living."  From earliest childhood, all Balinese are exposed to the traditional dance, music, visual arts, and elaborate and highly symbolic religious rituals, and virtually all Balinese are performers or artists at some level, from field hands to shop owners.

Though geographically a very tiny island, contact with Buddhist, Hindu, Javanese, Chinese, Indian, and Western elements through the centuries has produced a truly unique, intricate, and powerful culture, as is reflected in the strength and spirit of its artwork.  Bali has remained strictly Hindu since the earliest voyages from India over a thousand years, despite the overwhelming conversion of much of the rest of Indonesia to Islam (Indonesia has a higher Muslim population than any country in the Middle East).

Painting itself has existed in Bali for many centuries, and its earliest forms can be traced to the design of "wayang kulit" or shadow puppets in the 10th and 11th centuries.

MacroSun is honored to present our collection representing all the major traditional styles of Balinese painting -- Kamasan Classical Style, Traditional Ubud Style, and Traditional Batuan Style -- in addition to a small selection of contemporary styles, by acknowledged masters in each style.  We are also pleased to present a wide selection of classical wood carvings and reliefs in ebony, kapolan, and softer woods, primarily depicting spiritual themes.  

The rich tradition in the arts attracted some of the finest European artists, notably Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet, and Arie Smit, to move to Bali decades ago, undoubtedly influencing the styles considerably.