monkey

Carved by hand from acacia wood, this exquisite mask by Made Mulyani depicts Subali. The Hindu epic Ramayana tells how Sugriwa and his brother Subali bathed in the enchanted lake of the forest, thus turning into monkeys and becoming kings of different kingdoms. They helped Rama rescue Sita from the evil king Rahwana.

Please note that wood color and grain can vary significantly from one piece to the next; this makes each mask a unique piece of art.

Courage and fearlessness are captured in this simian mask, inspired by the heroic warriors that helped Rama to free Sita. The Ramayana inspires Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family to hand-carve this mask from suar wood, its ornate splendor imbued with myriad well-tended details.

An extraordinary depiction of majestic elegance and a courageous heart, this mask of Sugriwa, King of the Monkeys, is imbued with the artistic grace of legends. Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family hand-carves this ally of Rama from suar wood with sumptuous detail, as Sugriwa's fearsome expression is softened by an ornate headdress and crown. Subrata's excellence as a wood carver are evident in the refined perfection of her work, rendering this mask a true treasure.

Sugriwa is one of the Ramayana's many heroes. He commanded a simian army to help Rama in rescuing his beloved Sita from the evil king Rahwana.

Working with local Balinese artisans, Wayan Rendah hand-carves this mask of suar wood to depict the face of a bold chimpanzee. He imagines that this monkey is the alpha male, diligently carving the wood to capture the features of its face and fur with an impressive level of detail.

The menacing fangs of Rahwana command attention in this mask by Nyoman Indrawati Subrata. According to the Ramayana epic, Rahwana is the ogre-king of Alengka, mythically situated on the island of Sri Lanka. He kidnaps Sita, the wife of the heroic Rama, only to eventually be killed by Rama and the white monkey army, commanded by Hanoman, the revered white monkey general. Using suar wood as her medium, the artisan passionately conveys Bali's rich Hindu heritage through the art she learned from her father, master artisan Nyoman Subrata.

In this magnificent Suar wood mask, Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family captures the beauty and poise of Sita, wife of the Hindu Lord Rama. She works the wood with supreme mastery and exquisite detail. Sita's smooth complexion is framed by an intricate headdress, allowing for a remarkable contrasting texture.

In the Ramayana epic, Sita is kidnapped by Rawana, the demon-king, and held hostage in his palace. Rawana coaxes Sita to stay with him and be his lover. Sita shields herself from Rawana's lust long enough for her husband, Rama, and an army of monkeys to rescue her. Sita now represents supreme devotion and compassion.

Peacefulness, piety and a humble spirit are expressed in this mask by Made Tresna. He depicts a praying monk on this Balinese prayer figure. "Balinese people believe they will reach a peaceful eternity after life, but all their sins should be washed away with karma and piety," the artisan explains.

He carves the mask from hibiscus wood. This wood varies widely in its tones and patterns, thus each mask is an absolutely unique work of art.