work dresses

Neighbors work together, harvesting the abundant crop of rice on the beautiful island of Bali. Gusti Made Sujana shares the spirit of togetherness, or otong royong in this beautiful batik painting. This system of communal aid is characteristic of the traditional Indonesian society. The only reward expected by participants is the satisfaction of having helped their neighbors to have a better life. All tasks become easier when shared by more than one and this belief in reciprocated obligations is an integral part of daily life in Bali.

Rice fields give up their bounteous crop of golden grains, gathered by grateful townspeople who work together. Gusti Made Sujana depicts a harmonious scene of trees and terraced rice fields on a terraced Balinese mountainside. Bali's fertile fields and plentiful water yield three harvests a year. This abundance allows the so-called Island of the Gods the leisure time to develop and maintain its highly creative spiritual culture.

Golden rice ripen on terraced hillsides on Bali, known as the Island of the Gods. Neighbors chat as they work together at harvesting the abundant crop of rice. Gusti Made Sujana shares the spirit of togetherness, or otong royong in this elegant one-of-a-kind batik painting. It is thought that all tasks become easier when shared by more than one, and this belief in reciprocated obligations is an integral part of daily life in Bali.

Quickly casting off clothes, a young couple gazes at each other with ardent eyes. A spreading cashew tree affords both shade and privacy in their hidden country bower. Birds sing songs of love in this charming portrait by Ivan Borges. Yet Satan himself is present, and the tempter of Eden takes the form of a snake that slithers up the tree trunk.

The Brazilian artist works in the woodcut technique to create this naif image in blue and white.

Titled "O Namoro do Matuto" in Portuguese.

Bright color courses through the tree of life, venerated by the people of Mithila. Peacocks preen in the shade of its branches and fish swim beneath while the sun watches over them. Devendra Kumar Jha works with natural dyes on handmade paper to create a joyous Madhubani painting.

As each painting is an individual folk art creation, each is unique. Colors and motifs may vary slightly from that pictured.