Resources

In all lacquer objects, regardless of when they were produced, a resinous sap coating preserves the core material and allows for decoration. The material for lacquering is extracted from lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum; formerly Rhus verniciflua), which is the same genus as poison oak. Learn more in this award winning documentary on Japanese lacquer.

Bhima (Bima), second of the Pandava (Pandawa) brothers, approx. 1960. Indonesia; West Java. Wood, cloth, and mixed media. From the Mimi and John Herbert Collection, F2000.86.157.

The painting of the temple offering at the start of this video, on view at the Asian Art Museum during the Bali exhibition, is by Miguel Covarrubias. It is among the many offerings he must have seen as he traveled around the island of Bali. Offerings such as these are still an important part of ceremonial life in Bali to this day. Miguel Covarrubias, a Mexican artist famous in 1920s and 30s New York City for illustrating the covers of magazines like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, made his first trip to Bali in 1930 with his wife Rose.

Regarded as one of the fastest guitarist in Indonesia, I Wayan Balawan appears in a special concert performing his signature blend of traditional Balinese music with jazz. Well-known for his ability to play a double-neck guitar and his development of the touch-tapping technique, Balawan has released three albums and tours all over the world.

This video features examples of different types of Balinese dance, costumes, and music. Bali: Art, Ritual Performance was on view at the Asian Art Museum from February 25–September 11, 2011.

This video depicts a cremation ceremony for members of the Balinese royal family. There are dozens of steps in the Balinese cremation process which can take many months depending on the wealth and status of the deceased. Wealthy people often have extremely elaborate pavilions and other implements that are part of this process. When the body finally makes it to the cremation grounds, there is a pavilion built there under which stands an animal-shaped coffin. The shape of the coffin is related to the caste of the person who has died.

Observe the time, love and labor that goes into the costumes and makeup required in one of the most important traditional Balinese dances, the condong (“divine nymph”). See examples of other Balinese customary ritual clothing and learn how to outfit yourself in a sarong and sash. Dancers will perform a segment of the majestic condong in their full regalia.

Associate Curator of Southeast Asian Art, Natasha Reichle, trains the Asian Art Museum docents on the upcoming Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance exhibition on view at the Asian Art Museum from February 25-September 11, 2011.

Audio tour for The demon Maricha tries to Dissuade Ravana, approx. 1780

Master Chinese calligrapher Cai Xingyi writes the poem Ascending the Heron Tower by Poet Wang Zhihuan (688-742) in cursive script. See more in the exhibition, Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (on view at the Asian Art Museum from Oct. 5, 2012–Jan. 13, 2013).