Metamorphosis of Barong

There is something eye-catching at the solo exhibition of I Ketut Mastrum. He smartly explores the barong through the alluring art of painting. Objects are carefully touched with a myriad of different techniques, ranging from that of Batuan, Ubud (Pita Maha), Pengosekan, and from young artists up to the latest academician. Similarly, he shows off a variety of styles like realism, surrealism, abstract, figurative, impressionism and expressionism. As a whole the works of Mastrum intensely reveal the theme of Balinese social tradition in relation to the Creator. Indeed, amid the daily painting activities, Mastrum is also a temple priest at Natar Sari Temple, Apuan Baturiti, Tabanan. His priesthood behavior confers a space to implement his inspiration, imagination and intuition as an innovative artist. Precise details of eyes, teeth, face or tail as well as other parts of the body are made. A wide variety of symbolism encapsulates the surface object of his works. He has also developed the technique of hatching lines when he paints facial parts, the body and the objects requiring accurate details. His brush scratching expressively leaves the image of speed, agility and even rage. Other than the figure of assorted barongs of his imagination or cultural empiricism, Mastrum also illustrates the energy of brush scratching, decorative details and truly vivid color. In his fourth solo exhibition, he exhibits the arts depicting the human form in a ‘deformative’ style. Tens of creative barongs by the painter, I Ketut Mastrum are exhibited at Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar from 25 April to 16 May. This exhibition was inaugurated by Dr I Nyoman Catara, lecturer at the Indonesia Institute of Arts (ISI) Denpasar.