Another highly recommended shop is Bali Art. Its owner is Ida Bagus Wedha, who is highly respected in art circles. His masterpieces are exported to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South American and even the Caribbean countries.
Beside the two main styles of sculpture discussed above, other genres should be mentioned: Batubulan produces soft stone works of gods and demons; Teges has made a specialty out of hyperrealist animals; and the Tegalalang area has become a huge workshop for false banana trees, flowers, etc; not to mention the wooden jewels or chess boards made in the Tampaksiring area; the wooden panels of Batuan and the many sculptors scattered around the island. For wooden masks, the most famous villages are Singapadu, Mas and Batuan.
Jewelry, mostly silver and gold, was traditionally practised by a clan of specialist craftmen, the Pande Bratan and, to this day, they are considered to be endowed with magical power. Traditional makers of the Balinese kriss, they now make modern jewelry aimed at the tourist market: bracelets, rings, brooches. The best shops are located in the village of Celuk, although some have now opened outlets in Ubud, Kuta and Sanur.
Hotels sometimes present designers'jewelry combining Western and Balinese techniques. Suarti Designer Collection is the leading name in this field. Having outlets in Mastapa Garden Hotel in Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Legian and Sukawati, the center showcases exquisite jewelry with designs influenced by dance. Its owner, Desak Nyoman Suarti, is an acclaimed designer, artist and dancer who has been featured in on television in USA and England. Bali, with its world famous traditional music, has many workshops where many bronze and bamboo instruments used in the local orchestras are made. |