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I Wayan Dana Wirawan

Senior Artist
Baturulangun Batuan Artist Association

Artist Statement

"For me, every stage of the Batuan painting technique is an essential ritual, especially the ngucek process. I always ensure that the lines at this stage possess a bold and dense character, utilizing dark Chinese ink. The depth of this black ink is the soul of my work; it provides a vibrant sharpness while serving as a steadfast foundation for the colors I apply later, ensuring that the depth of detail is never compromised.

Aesthetically, my fingers possess a natural inclination toward beauty. Even when I intend to capture the diverse range of human anatomy across all ages, my brushstrokes seem to decline depicting elderly or wrinkled figures; the outcome invariably results in handsome and beautiful faces.

I carry this visual harmony into my depiction of Dewa Acintya on canvas as a manifestation of God's omnipotence. The realization of this 'unimaginable' symbol is my way of fostering a profound religious emotional connection, allowing every soul who observes it to experience the presence of God in a way that is more intimate and tangible."

Bagi saya, setiap tahapan dalam teknik lukis Batuan adalah ritual yang tak boleh terlewati, terutama pada proses ngucek. Saya selalu memastikan garis pada tahap ini hadir dengan karakter yang tegas dan pekat menggunakan tinta Cina yang gelap. Ketebalan tinta hitam inilah yang menjadi nyawa bagi lukisan saya; ia memberikan ketajaman yang hidup sekaligus menjadi fondasi yang kuat bagi warna-warna yang saya tuangkan kemudian, tanpa rasa khawatir akan kehilangan kedalaman detailnya.

Secara estetika, jemari saya memiliki dorongan alami untuk hanya menghadirkan keindahan. Meski terkadang berniat menangkap keragaman anatomi manusia dalam segala usianya, sapuan kuas saya seolah menolak untuk menggambarkan sosok yang tua atau berkeriput; hasilnya selalu bermuara pada wajah-wajah yang tampan dan cantik.

Keselarasan visual ini pun saya bawa saat melukiskan sosok Dewa Acintya pada kanvas sebagai manifestasi dari kemahakuasaan Tuhan. Perwujudan simbol yang 'tak terbayangkan' ini adalah cara saya membangun kedekatan emosi religi, sehingga setiap jiwa yang memandangnya dapat merasakan kehadiran Tuhan dengan lebih dekat dan nyata

Artist Biography

I Wayan Dana Wirawan was born in Batuan, Gianyar, on September 2, 1974. He is the son of the painter I Wayan Warsika, who served as his primary teacher and mentor in mastering the Batuan style of painting from an early age. His artistic talent was evident since his elementary school years, where he actively won various painting competitions from the district to the provincial levels.

Although he studied intensively under his father's guidance, Dana Wirawan's visual character possesses a unique artistic depth recognized by international art observers. Art author Bruce Granquist noted a similarity in the line character of Dana's work with the styles of maestros I Made Djata and I Made Tubuh. While he never studied directly under these two figures, this similarity in line work emerged through his diligence and aesthetic sensitivity in absorbing the Batuan visual lineage.

Alongside his dedication as a painter, I Wayan Dana Wirawan also has an educational background from SMA Negeri 1 Sukawati and pursues a profession as a tour guide. His experience interacting with international tourists has given him a broad perspective, yet he remains steadfast in preserving the authenticity of the Batuan traditional techniques inherited from his family. To this day, his works continue to be appreciated and are part of the private collections of international art enthusiasts who value the precision and maturity of traditional Balinese techniques.

His professional career in the art world began to rise significantly in the 1990s. At that time, he was specifically invited by the art figure Agung Moning to exhibit his works at the Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud. This exhibition was a major milestone that introduced his precise painting style to a wider public. He has participated in various exhibitions, including joint exhibitions at the Batuan Art Museum (2012), exhibitions at the Museum Puri Lukisan (2013 and 2015), joint exhibitions at the PKB Taman Budaya Art Center and Royal Pita Maha (2018), the Bali Kandarupa Exhibition “Wana Jnana” (2021), the Bali Kandarupa Exhibition “Danu Hulu Manu” (2022), the Bali Kandarupa Exhibition “Prabangkara Sagara Prasiddha” (2023), the Bali Kandarupa Exhibition “Charma Manu Candika” (2024), and the Tribute to Nyoman Ngendon Exhibition at the ARMA Museum Bali.

I Wayan Dana Wirawan lahir di Batuan, Gianyar, pada tanggal 2 September 1974. Beliau adalah putra dari pelukis I Wayan Warsika, yang menjadi guru utama sekaligus pembimbingnya dalam mendalami seni lukis gaya Batuan sejak usia dini. Bakat artistiknya telah terlihat sejak masa sekolah dasar, di mana beliau mulai aktif memenangkan berbagai kompetisi lukis dari tingkat kecamatan hingga provinsi.

Meskipun belajar secara intensif di bawah bimbingan sang ayah, karakter visual Dana Wirawan memiliki kedalaman artistik yang unik dan diakui oleh pengamat seni internasional. Penulis buku seni Bruce Granquist mencatat adanya kemiripan karakter garis dalam karya-karya Dana dengan gaya maestro I Made Djata dan I Made Tubuh. Meskipun beliau tidak pernah berguru langsung kepada kedua tokoh tersebut, kemiripan garis ini muncul sebagai hasil dari ketekunan dan kepekaan estetikanya dalam menyerap silsilah visual Batuan.

Di samping dedikasinya sebagai pelukis, I Wayan Dana Wirawan juga memiliki latar belakang pendidikan dari SMA Negeri 1 Sukawati dan menjalani profesi sebagai pemandu wisata (tour guide). Pengalaman berinteraksi dengan wisatawan mancanegara memberikannya perspektif yang luas, namun beliau tetap teguh menjaga keaslian teknik tradisi Batuan yang diwariskan keluarganya. Hingga kini, karya-karyanya terus diapresiasi dan menjadi bagian dari koleksi pribadi para pencinta seni internasional yang menghargai ketelitian serta kematangan teknik tradisional Bali.

Karier profesionalnya di dunia seni rupa mulai menanjak secara signifikan pada era 1990-an. Saat itu, beliau diundang secara khusus oleh tokoh seni Agung Moning untuk memamerkan karya-karyanya di Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud. Pameran ini menjadi salah satu tonggak penting yang memperkenalkan gaya lukisnya yang presisi ke publik yang lebih luas. Ia ikut serta dalam berbagai pameran, di antaranya pameran bersama di Museum Seni Batuan (2012), pameran di Museum Puri Lukisan (2013 dan 2015), pameran bersama di PKB Taman Budaya Art Center dan Royal Pita Maha (2018), Pameran Bali Kandarupa “Wana Jnana” (2021), Pameran Bali Kandarupa “Danu Hulu Manu” (2022), Pameran Bali Kandarupa “Prabangkara Sagara Prasiddha” (2023), Pameran Bali Kandarupa “Charma Manu Candika” (2024), serta Pameran Tribute to Nyoman Ngendon di Museum ARMA Bali.

Style: Traditional Balinese, Batuan Style - Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia

Mediums: Chinese Ink & Acrylic