I Nyoman Gunarsa (1944-2017)

A Balinese dancer in green dress

signed and dated '2001' (lower right)

watercolour on paper, 73x54 cm

Provenance:
-Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 2002/2003.

Gunarsa studied painting and taught sketching at the Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia (ASRI) in Yogyakarta where he graduated in 1976.

He founded his own art museums in Yogyakarta and Klungkung and has held expositions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, France, Monaco, and the USA. In 2003 he was awarded the Satyalancan Kebdayaan Art award by the President of Indonesia, and several other awards.

After working in an academic style, his development turned to the joyous expressionistic style of predominately dynamic female figures dancing and making music. 'I am drawn towards lines likes singing, and [towards] placing colours like dancing' is a typical saying of the artist. The women in his paintings with their plain faces contrast with lively spots, lines, and colours. His striking compositions have a sense of rhythm in positions and repetitions of the figures.

Reference: Agus Dermawan T. a.o. 'Modern Indonesian Art,' Koes Artbooks 2006 Denpasar, p. 141.