Instructor: Bruce Sherratt
with local Balinese guest speakers
Enquiries to: bali_artcourses@yahoo.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course is suitable for all but is strongly recommended as an excellent Pre IB or Mid IB Visual Arts Course. The combination of a research and enquiry based approach to a dynamic and highly distinctive and exotic culture using both written and visual means (drawing and photography) provides an excellent opportunity for IB Visual Arts students to give a major boost to their studies, whether before embarking on the IB Visual Arts course or as a booster between the first and second years of the course. Students emerge with sufficient research information and practical studio work to inspire and motivate them for at least a year.
Despite its structured nature this course offers ample scope for individuals to develop skills and interests in their own terms and is therefore suitable for both absolute beginners and people without obvious ability. There will be opportunities to draw from the clothed or nude figure at Pranotofs Art Gallery, Ubud and also to learn the art of traditional batik from the well known local Artist Nyoman Suradnya.
Participants will develop or extend skills in working both from observation and imaginatively in various media either abstractly or figuratively.
The visually and culturally rich Balinese setting offers a splendid context and includes visits to museums, galleries and artistsf workshops and studios.
 In addition to hands-on work participants will be introduced to the history of Balinese painting as well as basic spiritual, cultural and religious factors. To understand Balinese art one must appreciate the notion of "Taksu" or "Spiritual Charisma" and also the fact that the landscape and geography of the island deeply influence its mentality and culture. The Sacred volcano Gunung Agung for example is the highest and therefore most spiritual place on the island, whereas the surrounding sea is actually seen as the lowest and most spiritually hazardous part.
Theoretical considerations in the creation and appreciation of contemporary Balinese painting will be compared to post modernist so called gWestern paintingh in search of similarities and differences. The aim is for course participants to activate or extend their own creative capabilities while gaining insights into the underlying structure and aesthetics of visual art and the confidence needed to make informed qualitative judgments regarding the visual art in general.
 Museums and Galleries Visited
The Neka museum
The Agung Ria museum
The Seka gallery
The Antonio Blanco museum
The painting village of Batuan
The miniature painting village of Kiliki
Gunarsa Museum of Classical and Modern Art: Klungkung
Other Places of Special Interest
- Lake Kintamani
- The Ubud Palace: Nightly Traditional Balinese Dance Performances
- The are various other temples in Ubud and surrounding villages where other dance performances can been seen
- Unique architectural sites such as The Four Seasons Hotel and the hotel Chedi.
- The day/night market Ubud
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