Monumental 1970s Batuan School Painting of Balinese Daily Life, Signed I Md Merta

A truly special piece of art with incredible character and soul.

An exceptional and monumental original painting from the "Batuan School" of Bali, dated 1971. This work is a premier example of the stylistic revolution that transformed Balinese art in the 1970s, as artists moved from traditional ink-washes to the vibrant, dynamic, and colourful acrylic compositions seen here.   

Signed by the artist "I Md Merta" of Lungsia, this large-scale canvas captures the kehidupan sehari-hari, or daily life, of a Balinese village. The composition is a masterpiece of the Batuan style, which, unlike the more open Ubud school, is characterised by a dense, horror vacui layering where every inch of the canvas is filled with intricate, meticulous detail.   

The viewer's eye is drawn along a central, vibrant blue river where village women are seen bathing and collecting water. This pathway leads vertically through a lush, stylised jungle of deep and emerald greens, culminating at the spiritual center of the village: a pura (temple complex) rendered in a striking, sacred blue.   

At once an "informal Baroque folk art"  and a sophisticated modern composition, this painting captures the tranquil essence and vibrant spirit of island life. The work is presented in a custom-made minimalist floating timber frame, stained in a dark Black Japan finish that perfectly complements the artwork's deep tones.   

A significant, curator-vetted statement piece for a collection of distinction.   

Materials: Acrylic on Canvas, Custom Timber Frame

Style: Balinese, Folk Art, Batuan School

Period: 1971

Dimensions: H.154  x W.78 cm