[Episode3] BACKSTAGE BALI - Meditation And Encounters with Spiritual Beings - Eccentric or Mad? Carvings by I Nyoman Tjokot (1886-1971)

This time I would like to show you very special artefacts from Pak Wayan's onARTBali collection, mystical wood carvings by a Balinese Artisan I Nyoman Tjokot (1886-1971). His inspirations would come through meditation and encounters with spiritual beings, receiving his ideas from the God’s, this is why his works are very rare, creating sometimes only one piece a year. 

photo by Andrea Torelli for onARTBali Brochure for free download 

He has often been classified as being an eccentric or even mad, living alone on the edge of a cliff far from anyone. He was a workaholic and refusing to cut tress for his sculptures, would collect pieces of wood by the riversides, or pick up abandoned lumps of wood on the way. 

                        

Tjokot was born in a village not far away from Ubud, Bali called Tegalalang but never received any art training, his wood sculptures have been called exotic, demonstrating a powerful, refined style, and containing high spiritual values. 

His creations are quite exotic to look at, traditional but without academic influence. His works have a frighteningly macabre feel, his animal carvings eerie, his figurative sculptures showing strange and frightening forms, as well as beasts whose features are indistinct.

Also a pemangku, Pak Tjokot drew inspiration from reading sacred Hindu texts from lontar leaves. 

 Source [ Bali Tourism Board ]

There are two kinds of priests in Bali, the pedanda, or high priest and the pemangku, a temple priest.

ARCA BALI 

This symbol is put at the temple and is considered as sacred in “The” tradition of carving sculptures for the use of Pratima, especially in Bali, which has experienced fast development and was encouraged by one of Hindu doctrines called "Bhakti Marga". The Pratima is used as the material of worship to the God. The tradition is developed during the period of ‘New Bali Hindu’ from 15th to 18th century. 

Definition of bhakti–marga. Hinduism. : approach to salvation by way of ardent devotion to a deity — compare karma-marga.

[ source & original photo : http://www.onartbali.com] 

          

His magical expressiveness came from the ancient Balinese myths of beasts and demons, and he would never outline or draw on the wood before carving. Based on his imagination and instinct, he would sculpture away his days, adapting to the original form of the medium.

Ignored in his own country, in 1960’s Tjokot was classified as a Maestro overseas, and in 1969, I Nyoman Tjokot was awarded the Wijaya Kusuma prize by the Indonesian Government. Along with a certificate and a medal, he was also given a prize of Rp 100.000 ( approx USD 8.-). His works are owned by local and international Museums: Musium Puri Lukisan, Ubud Bali; Denpasar Museum, Bali; Museum Istana Negara, Jakarta; Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden; Tropen Museum, Amsterdam; 

Marlon Brando bought several pieces while visiting Bali, also there are private collectors from the USA, Australia, and the Netherlands and in Indonesia. 

Finally after his death, the world acknowledges Tjokot for his primitive expressionist style.

Tjokot died at 83 years of age on the 1st of  October 1971 as a result of tuberculosis having wrecked his lungs.  He left little in the way of material wealth for his children and grandchildren, except a few prized sculptures which remain in  their possession to this day.  But despite being poor, he left behind quite a big name, not only for his  family, but for Indonesia as a whole. He also passed on a style which became known as Tjokotism and which later enabled his progeny to improve their standard of living by leaps and bounds.

Other Balinese Carver ProfilesHere you see a demonstration by Pak Ida Wayan Mudana, another Maestro carver  

                                      

[Source : http://www.carvingcountries.com]

I hope you enjoyed and read also my previous article 

Meet Pak Wayan , The "Unknown" Balinese ICON , How A Tour Driver became an Art Collector of Indonesian Treasures

The first moment you meet Pak Wayan , you feel the passion, you want to hear his stories ! A simple Balinese man who traveled most of his life to secretive and hidden places in his country, so rich in culture and age-old traditions, to collect "Beauty", Indonesian Art since the 50's! He started out as a tour guide & driver .....Made took me to his uncles home for the first time around 2004. I was hooked ! I have so much respect and honor for the devotion, the faith he has for his Balinese Hindu religion, Gods & Goddesses, how men like him keep their culture alive.

"onARTBali" project was born many years later when the family was in financial troubles and a gallery had to be sold . I knew it was the right time to expose those hidden treasures to the whole world and help selling some of those, over 6000 pieces.

       

Yours 

Mammasitta

http://www.onartbali.com

Mammasitta's Art Network 

Instagram @onartbali