Fine Art Painting: Myths of Bali

"Myths of Bali" in Fine Art Painting by German Artist Iz Maglow

In Balinese dances, dramas and shadow plays as well as in paintings or sculptures mostly tell myths from old India, most important the epic "Ramayana" and the epic "Mahabarata".
Myths of Bali like the legends of "Raden Panji" go back to the year ~1200, when dynasties in East- and Middle-Java had been on its top. "Legong", an ancient, royal dance narrates a small part of the "Panji"-Cycle: the legend of "Raja Lasem", who had kidnapped the princess "Rangkesari" and who was killed in her liberation.

"Arja", a many hours lasting Bali-Opera, tells the myth of "Jayaprana", the last surviving man of an epidemic and his wife "Layon Sari". His king and adopted father "Anak Agung" tries in vain to get "Layon Sari". She prefers to follow her murdered husband by killing herself than to follow the wishes of her king.

Especially the demons of Bali are painted very exaggerated and during the night before "Nyepi", a celebration similar to Western "New Year", everywhere on the island of Bali giant monsters called "Ogoh Ogoh" are carried through the streets.
 

OGOH OGOH

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

14195010

private collection
Stuttgart / Germany

OGOH OGOH

OGOH OGOH

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

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

14195009

14195008

RAJA LASEM

JAYAPRANA

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

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

11095074

11095049