Fine Art Painting: Bali's Religion in paintings

"Bali's Religion" in Fine Art Painting by Art Artist Iz Maglow

In his modern art paintings Iz Maglow also gave his attention to Bali's Religion. He tried to look behind the rites of daily offering, followed numerous temple ceremonies and studied the priests, while they were celebrating their divine services.

Temple ceremonies in Bali are often accompanied by "Tajen" (=cock fighting), where the blood of the loosing cock should ensure the fertility of the coming rice harvests.
At many Balinese ceremonies natural substances like blossoms, herbs, coconut milk and not seldom the blood of freshly sacrificed animals are playing an important roll for the offerings.

There is nearly no place in Bali, that would not get its regular "Banten" (= offerings). In and around the house as well as in the rice fields, at springs, road crossings, bridges or especially old trees lie or hang these holy requisites.

A "Pendeta" (=priest) selects the best days for all important events like tooth-filing, wedding, buying a new car, starting to build a house ... and its accompanied ceremonies by comparing two different calendar systems ("Saka" and "Pawuku").
 

BEFORE ANY BRAHMAN CAN BE A "PENDETA" (=PRIEST) HE HAS TO BE "BORN" INTO THIS POSITION DURING A SPECIAL "UPACARA" (=CEREMONY).

LATER, A PRIEST IS SEARCHED QUITE OFTEN BY THE BALINESE FOR HIS ADVICE AND THE DAILY FRESH HOLY WATER.

ONCE IZ MAGLOW WAS INVITED TO SUCH A BIG FESTIVITY AND CREATED SEVERAL PAINTINGS WITH THIS SUBJECT.

UPACARA PENDETA

tempera and acrylic on canvas,
1994, 80 x 80 cm

14194024

private collection
Stuttgart / Germany

ALL IS ANIMATED, ALL IS GHOSTLY

ui! - DAILY FRESH HOLY WATER

tempera on paper,
1995, 30 x 40 cm

tempera on paper,
1995, 30 x 40 cm

11095064

11095058

private collection
Berlin / Germany

UPACARA MEMBANGUN RUMAH
HOUSE BUILDING CEREMONY

MERAH BALIKU
MY RED BALI

tempera and acrylic on paper,
1995, 30 x 42 cm

tempera and acrylic on paper,
1995, 30 x 40 cm

11095061

17495060

private collection
Landau / Germany

private collection
Frankfurt / Germany

OFFERINGS AND CEREMONIES
FOR WEALTHY RICE HARVESTS

INVITATION-OFFERINGS
TO THE DIRECTION GODS

tempera and acrylic on paper,
1995, 30 x 42 cm

tempera and acrylic on paper,
1995, 30 x 42 cm

11095059

11095062