Bali Art

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Techniques

WOOD CARVING is a skill requiring more precision and sureness than that of carving stone. The carver starts with a virgin block of wood, which he hacks down to roughly the same size as the piece to be carved.

Using very simple tools, the carver lightly taps the highly sharpened instruments. Unlike the technique used in the West, he does not use hand pressure except for really close work.

Fine-grained hardwoods such as teak (jati) and strong fruit trees such as jackfruit (nangka), the compact sawo (a beautiful dark red wood), shiny ebony (ebon), tamarind, hibiscus, frangipani, and kayu jepun are the most popular carving woods.

The texture of the grain determines the nature of the piece to be carved. Dark ebony, particularly pieces with striped grain, is best suited for vertical shapes or faces. Rarer are pieces made of unpolished ebony (sanded and brushed only) where you can make out the grain in the wood.

The blackest ebony might be used to depict a subject of great dignity. Satinwood, a light striped, beige-colored wood native to Bali, may inspire pieces of a softer theme. The grain often follows a skin pattern or veins in the arms of the statue.

Traditionally, if the statue is not to be gilded or painted it is made smooth with pumice and given a high polish by rubbing it with bamboo.

These finished carvings were once treated and stained with oils to achieve a pleasing subtle gloss, but now Balinese artisans find that neutral or black shoe polish produces much the same result with half the effort.

Walking down the lanes of the carving villages, you can hear the gentle hammering, sanding, and spontaneous chatter of the woodcarvers. They sit cross-legged on the floor surrounded by piles of freshly carved wood chips and rough, uncut blocks as chickens peck their way around the tools. The sweet aroma of clove cigarettes and coffee fills the air.

Carvers are paid by the day. Top-class carvers earn 60% of the selling price. These master carvers usually do not jealously guard their creations but share ideas willingly with sons and assistants. They invite apprentices to study carving under them. These pupils eventually turn out accomplished pieces patterned after their teacher's style.