Having been inspired by the magical shadow shows of traditional Javanese puppet wayang, Eko Nugroho created Wayang Bocor in 2008. Just like the traditional performance, Eko’s version of wayang still focuses on bringing human interest to the core of the story, while also adding modern elements such as lighting and digital music, to make the performances “fresh and exciting”. The show itself is very dynamic and requires further collaborative efforts with actors and narrators, as it is a scripted performance, with no puppeteer to control the storyline. The narrator tells a story that illustrates today’s society while the actors interact with the audience.

Curious? Don’t miss Wayang Bocor on July 29 at Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak. The performance is free of charge and will start at 6 p.m.

Where: Potato Head Beach Club, Jl. Petitenget No. 51B, Seminyak

Celebrating Murni

Ketemu Project Space in collaboration with Sudakara Art Space is set to exhibit Murni’s paintings, as well as those of 15 other artists. They also will hold discussions about her art and its relation to feminism and taboo. Murni was a Balinese female artist who passed away 10 years ago. She learned and developed an inimitable traditional style of Pengosekan painting and was known for her explicit images of nude and sexual body parts in her paintings, stemming from her suffering after being raped by her father. The exhibition aims to give a voice to perspectives that have been silenced, marginalized or excluded in the context of the larger story of Indonesia art history and Balinese culture.

Dubbed Merayakan Murni (Celebrating Murni), this exhibition will run from July 16 until Sept. 18.

Where: Sudamala Suites & Villas Bali, Jl. Sudamala 20, Sanur

Impressions of Bali

Dutch artist Theo Zantman fell in love with Bali’s rice fields and decided to paint them. Up to 70 percent of his paintings were created on the spot in order to capture the surrounding’s feeling and atmosphere. Most of his paintings showcase the vast beauty of lush rice fields in Bali, and four years ago he was asked to paint rice fields in Java to show the differences. The result is his recent exhibition, Impressions of Bali, which takes place at Maya Sanur Resort & Spa. Aside from rice fields, he also loves to paint everyday life in the kampung, capturing the rapid changes. Currently residing in Buleleng regency in northern Bali, Zantman has a style that is greatly influenced by Vincent Van Gogh, and has so far held around 30 exhibitions. His sawah exhibition starts this July and will end on Aug. 31.

Where: Maya Sanur Resort & Spa, Jl. Danau Tamblingan 89M, Sanur

“TRIP”

A group of 18 young artists who formed Bali Emerging Artists are slated to host an exhibition called “TRIP”, which will showcase not only two-dimensional artworks but also installation art that illustrates their long journey of creating art. In this exhibition, the artists, alumni of the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Denpasar, ISI Yogyakarta and Ganesha University of Education’s Fine Arts department in Bali, will display archives of sketches, photos or personal notes curated by I Made Susanta Dwitayana. The group will also offer workshops and discussions to share their insights and experiences during their creation process, as well as tips on how to build communities.

The art exhibition will take place at Bentara Budaya Bali, with an official opening on July 25 at 7 p.m., and will end on Aug. 3. The discussions will be held on July 31 at 3 p.m. (kes)

Where: Bentara Budaya Bali, Jl. Profesor Ida Bagus Mantra No.88A, Ketewel, Gianyar