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Exhibition Themes:
The loan exhibition, Bali: Island of the Gods, conveys
the magical aura of a unique culture whose driving forces, even in the modern age, are religion and rite. The exhibition includes over 300 precious artifacts in stone, wood, and other materials, textiles, and
photographs that illuminate Bali's conception of the world, the cult of ancestors and the arts. This page briefly describes
the three thematic sections of the exhibition:
The first thematic section gives a historical context to view
the old Balinese kingdoms, with the witch-cults and magical practices, and portrays the tropical island's powerful religious
symbols, such as the impressive cremation tower.
In the second section, Golds and Silks – Princely
Textiles from Bali, highlights from the museum's textile collection are juxtaposed
with historical portrait photographs of members of the preciously clad nobility.
And in the final section, Bali – Living in Two Worlds,
Indonesian photo-grapher Rama Surya captures everyday scenes of today's Bali in masterly black-and-white photographs which reflect the exciting links between tradition and present times.
In Gold and Silk: Princely Textiles from Bali
This thematic component of the exhibition features the princely textiles
from Bali. In Bali, textiles mean more than just fabrics for clothing and decoration -- it is only through them that
the richness of Balinese culture obtains its visual expression. Rituals are inconceivable
without significant and adorning textiles; during ceremonies people, objects symbolizing gods and their places are clad in
fabrics.
Since the middle of the 20th century, Basel ethnologists have systematically
collected textiles in Bali, and have studied the backgrounds of its utterly rich
textile culture through many years of research. The exhibition presents thirty
exquisite silks and glittering gold cloths which once were regarded as status symbols and insignia of a courtly culture.
Eleven large scale black and white historical photographs from the archives of
the Museum der Kulturen Basel and the Royal Tropical Institute of Amsterdam complete this thematic section and convey a vivid
picture of this past era.
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Bali has been adorned with many attributes by its admirers. So every year, tourism lures more than a million visitors from all over the world, into the "Morning of the
World" with a "thousand temples" and promises of "the last paradise."
In Balinese Hinduism there is one single and almighty god, Sanghyang Widhi. But
as the original and eternal worldsoul (Brahman), he never actively interferes in creation and life processes. God rather reveals
himself in uncountable divine manifestations which are worshipped or soothed with offerings, in nature and in thousands of
temples.
In their good and their demonic manifestations Balinese gods are omnipresent.
It is their power which revives nature as well as mankind as a part of it, which in turn lends visibility and an aura to things.
This force which acts from the invisible is made visible and experienceable by statues and masks, dancers, musicians and actors.
Artists need divine sparks, inspiration and charisma in order to fill their work with vitality.
The exhibition "Bali – Islands of the Gods" represents some of these magical
qualities, and reveals the divine force behind objects which have become art
through belief. At the same time it shows the historical roots and processes which have left their mark on Bali's society
and culture over many centuries. In spite of dynamic changes during the course of globalization and urbanization, religion
and rites have still remained the driving force and motor of Bali's unique culture.
Included in the Exhibition
Approximately 300 objects, six DVD projections, 15 large scale color
photographs, 11 large scale historical photographs, 30 textiles, and 35 contemporary photographs.
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Living in Two Worlds: Photographs by
Rama Surya
The last section consists of a group of
35 Photographs, 15 objects and a slide projection.
Rama Surya was born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.
He has completed several photographic essays showing the juxtaposition of Balinese traditional culture with the encroachment
of modern civilization.
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| Rama Surya |
History of the Collection:
As a result of a lasting partnership between Basel and Bali, the Bali Collection has
become the most important and comprehensive collection outside of Bali. Systematically
collected and documented by internationally known specialists, it mediates an incomparable insight into history, religion
and art of one of the world's great living cultures. Its particular artistic
quality being that it is able to show how belief becomes art, and in doing so also takes into account the expressive works
of simple people's art as well as the filigree works of courtly art.
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The Humanities Exchange, 4000 Blvd de Maisonneuve West, # 1409, Montreal, H3Z 1J9
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