Wood relief panel, "Rama and Sita in Exile"

An ancient tree suggests mystical presence, its twisting branches looming over Rama and Sita. Hero and heroine of the famed Ramayana epic, these characters are a beloved part of Bali's Hindu culture. Ketut Sandi renders this image in kepelan wood, as hand-carved details accentuate the work's spiritual depth.

It is told that Rama, as the first son of his family, was the heir to the Ayodhya Kingdom. However, through treachery the second wife of his father (the king) forced her new husband to crown her own son as king, and asked him to exile Rama and his wife Sita. The couple, accompanied by Rama's younger brother Laksmana, went to a forest called Dandaka, where the evil ogre-king Rahwana kidnaps Sita, enamored by her beauty. With the help of Hanoman, the white monkey, Rama rescues his wife, although he doubts whether she faithful to him. To prove her purity, Sita throws herself onto a fire, but comes out unscathed, demonstrating her faithfulness to her husband.

This item is individually carved by hand and belongs to a special collection created by the artist.