Noted Balinese painter to hold solo exhibition

DENPASAR (indo.com): Travelers to Bali will have an opportunity to view an array of Balinese artist' artworks when top painter Wayan Karja holds a solo-exhibition at Gaya Fusion of Sense Gallery. The exhibition will kick off on April 9, 2004 and will run through May 25, 2004. It will open daily.

"Blue of Karja" will be the theme of the solo exhibition. Blue dominates Wayan Karja's artworks because through the color, the artist believes he finds peacefulness.

"Blue of Karja" reflects Wayan Karja's milestone in painting by using blue and green in his artworks. He used to use red, yellow and orange. The blue atmosphere of Wayan Karja has landed to this universe and can be seen at Gaya Fusion of Senses.

"Blue, my own favorite color, is inspired by my dreams, imagination and experiences which I got when I travel around the world. I used to wonder if "blue" was the color which he gained from traveling from one island to another or across the whole planet and throughout the universe," said Karja.

His extensive travel experience has answered his imaginary questions. "Above and beyond this horizon, there is another horizon; above the blue sky, there is another blue sky. This planet is dominated by blue," he said.

"To think about blue for me is to think about wholeness, fullness, circle, loops, space without limit, as far as I can imagine, the universe," he said.

"Blue sky and ocean, mountain and lake accompany me everywhere I go. I do not feel alone, when I look to the sky, to the water and feel the breeze...these are my partners everywhere I stay. Like everything, blue also has a negative shadow. Blue can make me feel lost or alone. I need to turn it into a warmer and more positive direction to maintain a balance. Blue is amazing to me, my guide to meet my Self as Balinese painter," he said.

Born in Ubud, Karja's first formal fine art education was at The Indonesian Art School in Denpasar, Bali. There he majored in Painting from 1981 until 1985. Karja then studied for 5 years in fine Art and Design at Udayana University in Denpasar, gaining his Doctorandus (Drs) degree. In 1999, Karja completed a two-year program at the University of South Florida, USA, attaining his Master of Fine Arts majoring in Painting and Printmaking.

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