Bali wood carving, Mask Carving

For Centuries wood carvings in Bali was done for architectural purpose as ornamentation of temples, palaces and houses of high caste.Art sculpture also made for religious purpose; statues of gods, mythological animals and demons. Mostly Bali wood carvings were painted in a variety of colors, very few carvings unpainted in their natural state.The Balinese world is filled with magical power. Objects that we as westerners would normally consider to be devoid of the ability to exert influence on other objects or people to them may possess a mystical force.

Masks that are used in religious ceremonies have great concentrations of power and, therefore, must be treated very carefully. Masks used in traditional dance and drama performances, even if not sacred, also must not be handled casually.Masks are used in dance, as part of many rituals and performances. Dance is an expression of one's devotion to the gods as well as a way to instill and pass on values through the stories depicted and handed down to each new generation of Balinese.

The topeng, mask dancer, who performs at temple festivals takes on the characteristics of each mask he puts on. He will become the old man, hobbled over with slow, restricted movements, or the fierce warrior or embody the royal demeanor of a king. The dancer associates each movement with the music.

Using simple woodcarving tools, the process begins with a block of wood (part of a tree with bark shaved off) cut to the height of the mask that's desired. From this simple beginning, if I present even a rough drawing, the carver proceeds seemingly without much premeditated thought, in a flow state. First he cuts out the basic shape, and later craves out the back. All is done with simple tools: mallet, chisel and knife. Within just a few hours the form of the face or character begins to emerge. Our masks are made of a soft wood, whereas some of the carvings we see are made of much harder woods, such as hibiscus Traditional mask makers use the wood of the punyan pule, a common tropical tree.

Many activities in Bali are done communally. One person may cut the blocks of wood, then another carves while others do the sanding. Painting a mask is a long process. It takes many coats to get the right feeling and look. As you can see, mask carving is a long process. It takes great creativity as well as dexterity, to form the masterpieces the artists produce. Some find their way around the world and have been made to use in great theater companies in Japan or Paris. Visitors have often brought their ideas into the mix. Some designs are purely Balinese in nature, while others have an "east meets west" quality.

if you want to know about wood carving in bali, please search in our website http://www.baliartwood.com by lenny