Bali - (Kosmos)

Title	Bali - (Kosmos)
Subtitle	An adventure in cultural ecology
Category	Paintings
Author	Steven E. Klot, Nigel Bullough
Publisher	Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam
Published	1972
Language	Dutch - English
ISBN-ASIN

Summary

"Bali" is more than an exhibition of a series of modern paintings by Balinese artists. It is an intense confrontation of the West with an exquisite blend of Eastern cultures, the significance of which has barely penetrated to us. That is sad, now that it looks as if Bali, like many Eastern areas, will not be able to resist the dominance of Western influence. This collection could only be assembled with the greatest difficulty. A large part of the Balinese artists has already bowed to the West and has not progressed beyond paintings that meet the cheap romanticism of the Western tourist.

The impending loss of a unique culture was the basic idea for holding this exhibition in the meditation centre KOSMOS. When Nigel and Steven first came to us two months ago and unfolded the Hindu-Balinese paintings for us, we were actually immediately overwhelmed by the power of this culture. The films, photos, music and stories that we subsequently let pass us by in the preparation of this exhibition have increasingly brought us under the spell of this island of wonders. It became clear to us that such a happening can enable the visitor to expand his field of consciousness just as much as any meditation technique. The fact that this exhibition could be realized so quickly and on this scale is largely due to the versatile help of the Tropenmuseum. Due to renovations, they were unable to let it take place in their own building. They have made every possible effort to let this unique event take place in Amsterdam. That is unique. We appreciate the courage of this museum to want to spread the culture beyond their walls.

But our greatest thanks go to Nigel and Steven, who, as modern troubadours, sang their praises of this island over us and inspired us to prepare this exhibition in the right context. We expect that our visitor will suffer the same fate as us.
After initially admiring the beauty of this art, he too can be absorbed and carried away to the exotic atmospheres that characterize Bali.
Then it will become clear what it means if we would have to miss the uniqueness of this island in the future, surrender it to the technological colonialization of the West.

Frans Zwitser