Suar Wood Elephant Mother and Baby Sculpture, "Elephant and Calf"

“I was born in 1976 in Peliatan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali. The village where I live is known as a woodcarving village. My father was among the senior carvers, and respected in the neighborhood. I am the youngest child of fourth children, and I lived happily with all my siblings. I started doing wood carving at a very young age; at the age of 9 as I recall. I was usually watching my father carve wood, and that attracted me.

“My father is my teacher and also my mentor. I found my happiness in woodcarving. Even though I make a living by making sculptures, wood carving is also my hobby, along with badminton which I also enjoy. When I was still in elementary school, my neighbor made a small penguin sculpture. And then I tried to make one on my own. Later on, my neighbor saw what I made, and he liked it. That moment made me realize that I had a talent for becoming a woodcarver.

“Even though I loved wood carving since I was a very small kid, I still finished my education until I graduated from senior high school. I used to work on my own, but now I am helped by my brother. Together the result is better. I am happy when a customer is amazed by my carving and appreciates my work. Many customers from across the world have come to my workshop to buy my wood carvings.

“I am married now, and blessed with one son and one daughter. Becoming a father changed a lot of things in my life, but it also motivates me more to be a better person and to improve my work. Even though my wood carvings are good and the sales are good, there was a hard moment in my life. When the tragic bomb exploded in Bali, there were no foreigners who came to Bali. Tourism and art shops were closed down. Yet I still produced some woodcarvings, hoping the circumstances would get better soon. Having a family gives me another reason to keep moving and fighting.

“Today’s circumstances are no good, like the bomb in Bali. But luckily for me, NOVICA can help me to market my woodcarvings. I hope you will be impressed by my wood sculptures.”