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KALA and the GUARDIANS a Sawidji Collaborative Exhibition

Kala and the Guardians is a collaborative presentation between Dewi Dian Reich, ManButur Suantara and Nyoman Handi. With accompanying works of Kaprus Jaya. Our conceptual visual journey explores Time's presence in the world. With Sekala and Niskala. The seen and unseen worlds.

Through photography, painting, sculpture and interactive installations, we invite you to join us on a reflective exploration that asks more questions than it answers. Asking questions to raise our self-awareness of our own impacts. And how well do we understand our own relationship with time and the guardians of our worlds?

In the process of creating the portraits in this series, they were never conceived as a still image. Through a detailed installation within our studio walls, a miniature stage is set to find our story together. Throughout the day as we work together exploring these themes, the narrative progresses and we capture these transitions. This is part of the joy of our collaborations.

KALA and the GUARDIANS

Of all the things unseen and of the greatest mysteries, it is KALA... Time. Present in everything, traces of time are present in every tangible thing we see in this world. Time rules life. The ultimate entity from which no one can escape is Time. Kala cannot be touched but can be seen in everything. For nothing exists without Time. The fingerprint of time is in everything on earth.
Is Earths' joy not a gift to you?

Bumi is Earth. Earth is Mother as well as Child. Earth is a manifestation of the ultimate Creation Circle. From seed, to shoot, to stalk and blossoms returning to the seed. She is rock, from pebbles to mountains. She is water from dew to ice. She is fire, from hot springs to lava, holding the light of the stars in the fireflies in her fields. Nothing is ever on earth that is not subject to the cycle of birth and rebirth.

When earth is content, the blossoming of her joy gives us bounties.
The Earth changes with time. Her seasons are her many faces dancing together with Kala. Perhaps now, not only time brings a change to Mother Earth. Perhaps there are turns in her seasons not through her dance with Time, but a mark of weathering our ignorance and neglect..
The installation starts to show changes in the environment. Quite clearly visually representing physical impacts of human action on a far more pristine Earth. There is first a look that is of incomprehension.. and this slowly turns into a reflective questioning ..
Nature gives us peace and contentment , warmth and tranquility.. Trees grow with time .. happy because when the sun touches them they feel happy when rain showers them , feels at peace and cool when the winds embrace them gently..
With questions come answers. We discover the expression that says 'are you not aware of what I have given?'
Everything is there to give positive energy. For the living things that can feel it,.
With Time, Nature is not the same as before... slowly but surely there is retaliation. For the damage born of human actions that are full of disrespect and ignorance.
The transformation is one that physically happens within the studio. Time and movement are evidenced in the images captured. Earth, Nature, our conceptual portrait of her transforms before us. This happens because we transform together through the process.
Amongst many smiling faces, .. of many unseeing of this pain in the Earth. Are we not already in the aftermath of damage? Have we not already broken trust?
The portrait in black and white captures the sadness of realisation. Like colour being leeched away.
Inevitable distortions, a consequence of continued self-inflicted ignorance
The long exposures captures the abstract way we see Nature so unclearly. We are not separate from Nature ever. Our inability to see her clearly, inevitably means we do not see ourselves clearly.
Our relationship with the Earth 'Bumi' is not broken simply by physical issues of our wastes and exploitations. They are a reavealing symptom. Of a deeper sickness. One where we have lost an ancient memory. That we are children.. all children who do not remember that Earth is Mother...
Guardians are defined as defenders, protectors and keepers. Specific to Balinese culture in which it is believed everything in Nature is overseen by a Guardian. In the spiritual world (Niskala) just as in the tangible world (Sekala). It is believed there are those who have providence over their part and protect it.
From when we are small we are taught to ask permission before we take action.. Before we do anything..Asking permission of the Guardians of the spiritual world. This is inherent in our culture.
What is in prayer? a hope, a demand, a request, a complaint, a question, a wish, a blame, a protest, a negotiation, a compromise, an admonition?
The Portrait of 'Doa' conceptualises the accumulation of our prayers and wishes uttered to the Universe. In the context of our community and traditional practice, prayer is accompanied by an offering, the most known form of which is Canang Sari. 'Doa' is adorned with the remnants of forgotten prayers.
We may forget but Time does not.. all things remain in Kala. Past, present and future.
The gown that took shape that embodies Guardian Prayer, consists of offerrings that have been thrown away, new palm leaves, dried old withered flowers, blossoming roses, incense and many other materials that carry with them deep meaning in our culture.
It is important to keep the balance between human existence, the natural environment and the spiritual world. This balance is what allows us to live in harmony. We believe that we can live in harmony.
As we construct this dress, the process of making this is very much our installation. Embodying the accumulation of the collective voices that are uttered in the hearts of many is forever in Kala.

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

From the days of old, we leave traces of ourselves, recording our relationship to the Earth and to the Spirits, through art. Our creativity connects us to other parts of time that our bodies cannot reach. KALA keeps our memories and carries them that our future may see our past.

The art of Nyoman Handi, often experimental has had a strong recurring theme. That of our relationship with Nature and Spirit. More importantly, the changes in our communities that can be seen through Time. Memories of the past, an ideology that carries with it the aesthetics of ancient art into the artists' present reflections.

New Gateway

In response to the questions posed by our Guardian portraits, Nyoman Handis' work 'Gerbang Baru' returns to the heartfelt reminder that the most sacred offering we have to give is our gratitude. From true gratitude, we have an opening a new gateway to deepen our relationship with the Earth, the Great Spirit and therefore ourselves.

The new gate shows the meaning of 'offering' as a tribute to nature. By protecting and managing Nature well. Nature will take good care of us too, as always.
'Gerbang Baru' by Nyoman Handi
The Narrative we bring through this conceptual mixed media presentation of Kala and the Guardians, hopes to invite reflection within each person. A reflection that perhaps will shed new light of awareness that may deepen their relationship with the Earth, Spirit and Time.

Acknowledgements. The works of Dewi Dian Reich, ManButur Suantara, Nyoman Handi are possible as a result of the collective contributions of our team in creating the wonderful installations that are at the centre of our works. The whole team took part in creating the installations and costumes that are at the centre of our message.

Credits: D.D Reich, ManButur Suantara, Nyoman Handi, Wayan Juniari, Ketut Kaprus Jaya.

Created By
Dewi Dian Reich
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