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Nyoman Lentong

"My name is Nyoman Lentong, born in a cool green village of Bali in 1920. Formerly, I started the art creation from traditional painting on canvas or paper. Being interested in traditional music, I have focused on creating bamboo flutes with traditional painting since 1971. Designing antique bamboo flutes with painting in traditional styles lets me merge the arts of painting and music. The bamboo flute has special characteristics that have been commonly used by Balinese musicians to express art feelings through melodious flute music. Its sound is soft but sharp, that touch our ear and heart. In olden times, most Balinese men played flutes as part of attracting women to get their girlfriends. The Balinese named this flute suling, or seruling.

"The natural sounds of wind blowing through leaves and trees on the slopes of mountains inspires me much to produce the bamboo flutes. Different sizes of flutes produce different sounds that fit the gamelan ensemble being played as a part of the harmony. The process of making bamboo flutes starts with selecting small bamboo, the locals call it buluh. I clean and cut the dried bamboo according to the length I want, create the holes, and adjust the tune harmony. The last process is painting, using black color made of burnt coconut ash. I need about two weeks to complete one flute."

Lentong signs his work as "Pan Nasib, Sangeh," as he is known in his village.