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NOVEMBER 26, 1999 VOL. 25 NO. 47
 Ni Made Kurniati Andika's 'Woman Artist Between Two Cultures' Jo Rosarius |
A unique gallery in Ubud is changing local attitudes toward female painters
Gently, ever so gently, the women have been revising tradition. In the old days they didn't figure in Balinese painting. Even if they created anything, and a number did, the works were usually credited to a man - an artist husband or father. That began to change about eight years ago. The catalyst: Seniwati, the only gallery in Indonesia devoted to supporting women artists.
Starting with 10 painters in December 1991, the center in Ubud now represents 72 women and is inspiring more to pursue the art. Seniwati director Mary Northmore got the idea for the gallery when she settled in Bali with her husband, an Indonesian artist. No one, it seemed, knew of any woman painter - odd for such an artistic community. This "invisibility" made Northmore's quest to seek out women artists hugely difficult, but she found some. A successful exhibition of their work led to Seniwati, which means the art of women in Indonesian.
"We never turn anyone away who asks for our help [to promote their art]," says Northmore. Dispensing with a selection process didn't seem to hurt. Before long, the painters were staging displays from Sydney to Seoul. Another is being held in Hong Kong, where "Facing the Future: the Women Artists of Bali" will run at the Butterfield's club until Dec. 10.
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It took a while to sell the notion that women could be serious painters, says Northmore. Issuing a calendar with Seniwati art helped the painters gain exposure - and acceptance. The locals particularly respected printed material, so families were proud to be able to point to a page on the calendar and say, our daughter or my wife did that. Nurturing young talent helps. The gallery initiated an annual art contest for schoolgirls. The logical extension, art classes, began in 1994. With sponsorship for wages and material, Seniwati hired women artists to teach girls aged between 5 and 10 and older students of up to 15.
The gallery has never encountered opposition from husbands and families, says Northmore. They just didn't associate women with painting. Now some female artists are doing so well they have become their families' main income-earners. Still, old habits die hard. Northmore recalls a major exhibition featuring more than 100 artists from Bali. None were women. The organizers "simply forgot" about them. Seniwati makes sure they remember.
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