Login

Sign Up

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.
Username*
Password*
Confirm Password*
First Name*
Last Name*
Birth Date*
Email*
Phone*
Country*
* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Login
April 15, 2024
,

Batuan Village (Fine Art)

BATUAN VILLAGE

BATUAN VILLAGE IS THE CENTER OF PAINTING ART WITH UNIQUE BATUAN STYLE AND ARTISTIC PAINTING IN BALI ISLANDS

batuan village, gianyar places of interest

Bali Batuan Village is known as a famous center of Balinese art and painting, being one of Gianyar places of interest as a popular tourist destination located about 7 kilometers north of Denpasar and 10 kilometers south of Ubud. The village is famous for its Balinese art center activities, especially dance, wood panel carving, and Balinese painting in Ubud. There are many tours that visit Batuan and the painters in Ubud, where you can see stunning paintings and buy Balinese art. Batuan village has always been a gathering place for painters in Ubud, with inspiring works, making this village the center of painting on Bali Island. If you are interested in painting, it is recommended that you visit Batuan Village and meet the local artists to view and purchase their works. This experience will be very memorable, as you can see paintings with such strong Balinese characteristics, adding value to your travel experience.

If you visit Bali Batuan Village, here’s what you need to know:

Location of Batuan Village

Batuan Village is located on Batu Highway, Batu, Sukawati Sub-district, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80582. The village is on the main road to Ubud Village, so it is very strategic to visit if you are planning a trip to Ubud. Here, you can enjoy the beautiful art of painting. The journey from Kuta to Batu Village takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and with the help of Google Maps, you can easily find the location. Batuan Village is also close to Puseh Batuan Temple, as it is in the same village. If you have trouble finding the location, you can contact us at Bali Driver Hire, and we will make sure you have a pleasant trip exploring the paintings available here. We provide comfortable transport and experienced drivers for a memorable experience.

Batuan Village History

Batuan Village is one of the oldest villages in Bali, located in Gianyar Regency and adjacent to Ubud Village. The village has existed since ancient times, this is evident from the history of the Batuan Temple, which is very old. You can read the Batuan Temple History here. Since then until now, Batuan Village has maintained the preservation of Batuan Temple and also its unique painting art with traditional characteristics, such as painting with wayang images.

Batuan Village has existed since the reign of the Warmadewa Dynasty in Bali. The name of Batuan Village comes from its rocky geographical condition, so it is called Batuan Village. In colloquial pronunciation, this village is better known as Batuan. In addition, an inscription was found stating the existence of Batuan Village in Hyang Tibha Temple, built by Candrasengkala Idquo in 829 Isaka or 907 AD, during the reign of Srie Ajie Darmapangkaja Wira Dalem Kesari. The location of Hyang Tibha Temple is in Blahbatuh Hamlet, which is included in Batuan Village. Hyang Tibha Temple functions as a place of worship for Ida Sang Hyang Siwa as a symbol of Maha Pralina. The inscription is still stored in Puseh Batuan Temple, which was built in 944 or 1022 AD, precisely on December 26th, 1022, led by a monk named Bhiksu Widiya, a village head named Bhiksu Sukaji, and a village clerk named Mamudri Gawan.

History Painting Art at Batuan Village

Painting has existed since ancient times, around hundreds of years ago, and was initially only used for religious ceremonies in Batuan Village. The paintings were used in various ceremonies, such as depicting gods, and placed in temples and other places. When tourism began to develop in Ubud Village in the 1930s, Tjokorde Gede Agung Sukawati invited artists from abroad to come to Bali and study painting there. This made Batuan painting start to get attention because it has very unique characteristics with themes such as folklore (Tantri, Rajapala, Calonarang), puppet stories (Mahabarata and Ramayana), daily life, and religious activities. The process of making Batuan-style paintings is very long and requires a high level of precision. In addition, many Batuan paintings also contain character education values and various values that can increase human awareness to be better, which are taken from story themes such as Mahabarata, Ramayana, Tantri, Calonarang, and other folklore. This makes people who see these paintings understand the meaning contained in them.

With the times, Batuan Village not only offers traditional paintings but also various types of modern painting art, such as contemporary, abstract, minimalist, and others. However, the painting techniques used still follow the typical rock style, such as nyeket, ngorten, nyawi, nyigar, ngucek, and manyuni. These techniques give unique characteristics to rock-style paintings, making them very distinct and artistic.

Traditional Painting at Batuan Village

The ceremonial aspects are mainly focused on the religious part, the calendar, and the art of wayang kulit (Balinese: wayang), known as Kamasan or Wayang Style in Bali. Wayang kulit is a two-dimensional painting that specifically depicts Hindu-Buddhist epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana. These paintings are commonly used as decorations in temples or palaces and tell many stories about religion and Balinese life. They are often fragments of paintings that tell a particular story. The Kamasan style is named after the village where it originated. The materials used in the Kamasan style tend to be traditional, made from mineral, vegetable, or plant sources. Other materials used include white bone, soot, or stone. Bamboo is used as a tool for painting, while the painting medium is usually a traditional canvas made of wood, tree leaves, or cloth.

In 1930, the visit of Western artists to Bali brought significant changes to the rules of Balinese painting. The introduction of new western canvases, inks, and paints had changed the style of painting to be more modern in Bali. This change has started a new way in Balinese modern painting. Although the number of artists coming to Bali increased, the traditional style that focused on ceremonial aspects still remained limited. However, Batuan Village is not as influenced by Western styles as Ubud. Batuan paintings are often characteristically dark and full of representations of legendary scenes, everyday life themes, strange animal creatures, and the often eye-catching figure of the witch. These paintings tend to use gradations of ink from black to white spread over most of the surface, creating a dark and mysterious atmosphere. In recent years, the design of the paintings has expanded to encompass the entire space, which often contributes to the bustling feel of these Balinese paintings.

Batuan Village is The Center of Painting Art in Bali

Over time, Batuan Painting has become very famous and attracts many tourists who come to Batuan Village to enjoy the art. Due to the high enthusiasm of the tourists for this painting art, many painting artists have opened galleries throughout Batuan Village. This has made Batuan Village famous as the Center of Painting in Bali, which has continued to maintain its reputation until now. If you are on holiday in Bali and have an interest in painting, a visit to Batuan Village is highly recommended. You can visit one of the art galleries to see the work of local artists and also witness the process of making a painting. Along with the development of painting art and market demand, Batuan Village has adapted itself by providing various types of paintings without losing the characteristics of the phenomenal Batuan painting technique. In addition to local artists, many artists from outside Batuan Village also leave their works here to be sold to tourists, both foreign and domestic. With a wide variety of paintings and various art styles available, Batuan Village is recognized as the center of painting in Bali. So, if you have an interest in painting, Batuan Village is a great place to visit and enjoy the beauty of painting in various forms and styles.

Facilities at Batuan Village

Batuan Village is a village that offers an art experience in Bali. Along the streets of this village, you can visit art galleries equipped with complete facilities. From a large parking area to a place that shows the process of making paintings by local artists. You can see the whole process from start to finish, observing the complexity of the techniques used. There is an impressive collection of paintings here, including works by artists from outside the region that are also on display. Enjoy the precious experience of savoring the beauty of the paintings in various styles available here. If you are interested, you can even buy these paintings and bring them as souvenirs back to your country. Holidays in Bali will become more memorable by seeing famous paintings from ancient times to the present and witnessing the journey of tourism and art in Bali. In addition, the art gallery in Batuan Village also accepts customized orders. If you have an idea or picture of the painting you want to have, they can make it according to your request. However, keep in mind that the process of making a customized painting can take quite a long time. So, make the most of your holiday in Bali by visiting Batuan Village, Bali’s amazing painting art center.

Leave a Reply

Proceed Booking