batik

Enchanted by the beauty of Sita, the evil king Rawana wants her as his concubine. He sends one of his knights to tempt her by transforming himself into a golden deer. Sita, captured by her curiosity, asks her husband to catch the golden deer. Thus begins one of the many trials that beset the noble Rama - though happily, love will ultimately prevail. The story comes from the Sanskrit Ramayana, or "Romance of Rama," the Hindu epic poem. Gusti Made Sujana uses batik to depict Rama and Rawana with the deer.

Beautifully hand-painted on cotton fabric, a Balinese-style Buddha is serene. Artist Ida Bagus Lawa Bargawa works in traditional batik methods to render the figure of Buddha with his eyes downcast and his hand raised in a blessing.

This extraordinary wall art depicting the Hindu god Ganesha, also known as Ganapati and instantly recognizable for his elephant-like head, is expertly rendered by Ida Bagus Lawa Bargawa. A master of the traditional batik technique, the Balinese artist skillfully hand-sketches the figure and employs freehand wax resist application, which demands considerable expertise, with distinct dye baths for each color to create the vibrant and intricate batik art. In Hinduism, Ganesha is known as a god of knowledge and a remover of obstacles.

Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, embodied reason and virtue throughout his adventures on Earth. Challenged with unexpected tragedies and moral dilemmas, the deity remained righteous and wise, receiving the title of Ideal Man. Inspired by the divinity's story, Javanese artisan Gunadi handcrafts a pule wood mask with intricate motifs made using batik techniques, all honoring the charming image of Rama. As a mystic touch, the artisan adds a bird-themed crown to the piece, symbolizing the sacred circle of life and death.

Seated on a tiger, Shiva lifts a hand in blessing. Regarded as the celestial overlord of deliverance through destruction, Shiva has his customary trident by his side as a show of divinity. The hissing cobra that slithers around his head symbolizes his potent divine destructivity, and his matted hair is thought to contain the flow of the Ganges River. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is both the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. Unaffected by the whims of the world, he is innocent and guileless, pure of mind and heart. He does not adorn his body with jewels or flowers — he mats his hair and dresses in animal hide.

Ida Bagus Lawa Bargawa is a master of the batik technique, sketching the figures by hand and applying the wax resist freehand, which requires great skill. A different dye bath is required for each separate color in his elegant and complex batik "painting."