artisan goods

Javanese artist Anton Papo creates a remarkable naif-style painting in acrylic, ink and pencil on canvas, symbolizing Rwa Bhineda, a Balinese Hindu philosophy representing the coexistence of two opposing forces necessary for cosmic balance, harmony and wholeness. “This artwork talks about dualism in the universe: demon and angel, Yin and Yang, dark and light, good and bad... I visualize it in a relaxed, lighter light... and as it is,” he says.

Painted by hand, two feathers are carved from bone, dangling below petite beads of garnet. Ayu Ary designs these Balinese earrings, which swing from hooks of sterling silver.

There's nothing better than waking up to a Christmas stocking stuffed with goodies. Wake up to four stockings next year with Nik's darling set of ornaments. The Balinese artisan stuff the stockings with poly fill for just the right shape, then tops them off with festive polyester ribbons and aluminum flowers.

Traditional Balinese details surround an exquisite design that combines nature and glamour. Ayu Ary works with sterling silver to create the hooks and top structures that embellish these dangle earrings, setting natural peridot stones that total one carat and are believed to attract good fortune. Then, the artisan works on hand-carved feather-shaped cow bones, painting them in a palette of green, black and red for a tropical aura.

This lovely flute from Balinese artisan Made Sudiasa is carefully crafted with lightweight bamboo. Sudiasa then paints the flute with a Barong image in black, a masked figure who appears at times of celebration in Bali. For the Balinese, Barong is the symbol of health and good fortune.

She sits alone in a chair, dreaming of the one she loves. Her smile is hopeful. Passionate colors envelop the woman in a portrait by Harman. "Love is an affection that all human beings feel. Whether the love of a man or woman, love of nature, or anything. As long as people use love, the result will be good," the Javanese artist confides.

This exceptional painting by Anton Papo depicting abstract cats is expertly rendered on a canvas through acrylics, ink and pencils in blue, beige, red, green and black shades. The Javanese artist shares what inspired this modern composition: “I always feed three kittens that live nearby. After they are full, they always play around chasing each other and catching the ball I throw. It is fun and seemed good to be poured into an artwork.”

Javanese artist Pramono Hadi brings energy and movement to this abstract composition inspired by butterflies, blending red, blue, yellow, green, black, white and beige in a bold acrylic display. “In our culture, we believe that if a butterfly comes to our house it is a sign that a guest will come and bring good fortune. Butterflies are symbols of love, mercy and perfection,” he says. This contemporary painting makes a striking addition to any space.

Some say they're a sign of good luck, others say they are a symbol of great wisdom. It's safe to say that the owl is a prominent feature in pop culture and superstition alike. The mysterious, nocturnal bird is depicted in beautiful detail in a pendant necklace by Jon Stuart Anderson. It is handcrafted from polymer clay with rich color and detail. The pendant hangs on a cotton cord that features a resin bead for adjusting the length.

"We as God's creatures must have peaceful feelings and hearts. A peaceful heart allows us to forgive each other for all mistakes, maintain good relations with fellow creatures of God and be grateful for what we have and are. If we can live from the heart, we will feel grateful and will always be at peace" says Aldi.

In his painting, free-flying doves symbolize world peace, and two hands shake in accord, forming a united, yet diverse forest in this dreamy acrylic painting fashioned in the surrealist style.

"Standing as a metaphor for the process of globalization and free movement of people, the greeting of hands is the unification of all continents of the globe, while the trees bridge the gap as the diverse population of the globe."

The artist says his painting interprets world peace as the only way for the relationship between God, humans and the environment to prosper — to be able to forgive each other and set aside common differences.

"Peace can be realized by mutual tolerance and love for one another. This can start from the smallest circle, namely the family. Instill a sense of love and peace from an early age so that in the future there will be mutual respect," artist Ida Bagus Lawa Bargawa confides.

"Peace is always beautiful, always starts with a smile, and any problem can be discussed. Differences are natural and, as long as they don't hurt each other, peace can still be realized. Peace is closely related to mutual tolerance, listening, and understanding, and reducing unnecessary debate is an important key.

"Keep peace and maintain it, because to get it requires a great sacrifice. Peace cannot be maintained by violence, it can only be achieved by understanding peace within ourselves and peace in the world. Peace is a daily, weekly, and monthly process of gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, and quietly building new structures.

"My hope for world peace is that what is an aspiration for the progress of a country will be reflected in the harmonious relations of all countries in this world. For this reason, all countries must be able to help each other stabilize the world's economy. Welfare within a country will have a good impact on the path of world peace."

To illustrate these thoughts and dreams, the artisan brings us a captivating composition made with traditional batik techniques. Crafted in Bali, it is a tribute to peace and unity, depicting joined hands surrounding the world and upholding the peace symbol. Every element adds a message of friendship, love and cooperation.

As a new day dawns on the orange horizon, every subject of the Earth awakens to a heavenly glow. The line between realism and fantasy stimulates the human imagination just as dreaming of a world flourishing with peace.

Ida Ratna Ningrum conceptualizes the beginning of a new era of peace in this enchanting painting as she depicts an idyllic view into a blooming world of nature. The artist explains that the young girl sits protected under a tree in a thriving green field of harmonious flowers, far from the clutches of monolithic urban society. Finding hope in nature, the young girl embraces a dim globe to bring rejuvenation and a return to innocence, symbolizing the human concept of harmony.

Circling above, a flock of doves foreshadows the cleansing of the world's conscience, themselves being symbols of purity and modesty since ancient times. As humanity is both destined and doomed to a cyclical existence, the arrival of ancient symbols signals great changes to come.

"My definition of world peace is the desire of every human being, all who decide and choose to be at peace in their own way. If humans realize we can all choose to make peace by asking God to give us a heart that is peaceful and calm, then there will be no war. My hope for world peace is that all human beings can individually create something good and respect each other, and then peace will be established," the artist confides.