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Alit Suryadi

Alit Suryadi was born in Mas Gianyar, a village in central Bali renowned for its woodcarving legacy. Alit's family has been dedicated to carving for generations, so they were eager to see him help maintain the family tradition. Alit recalls his fifth birthday, when his father gave him a drawing kit as a present, to help foster his undiscovered artistic talents.

"That's when I became aware of my passion for art. I began drawing and painting, and I loved it!" Alit says. "I especially enjoyed representing Balinese scenery, especially our beautiful rice fields. Modesty aside, I was quite good, considering my young age.

"One day a journalist came to interview my father, who was renowned as a master carver. He saw one of my drawings and liked it so much, that he took it and used it as the back cover for an Indonesian children's magazine.

"My father passed along to me his wood carving knowledge and expertise. At first I helped him in the workshop, assisting when he carved sculptures. He always taught me to make a sketch first, and then carefully select the wood. Now, I enjoy woodcarving as much as I enjoy painting.

"When I grew up, one of my jobs was to work in an art gallery, and during my free time, I designed and carved sculptures that were different from those you could find elsewhere. I gradually developed my first collection, which was inspired by classic Indonesian motifs, yet they carried my own touch. Other collections have followed since, for example one that is inspired by Balinese nature, and my latest collection is called Belang. This one is based on old cloth motifs called mega mendung, meaning 'cloudy sky'. I'm already planning my next collection, which will be inspired by the leaves and fish of my island.

"I love Bali, and our ways of life. We respect each other and we try to maximize the good and minimize the bad. That is why I strive to keep alive this Balinese art form. I want to be in the present while preparing and planning for the future, without forgetting the past," Alit concludes with a smile.