Through the Eyes of Children Exhibition: Kuta, Bali

By Barrie | May 13th, 2007 | No Comments

Through the Eyes of the Children is an exhibit of 41 unique paintings created by children from the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) in order to aid the Bali Dynasty Charity Effort in their efforts to continue supporting their education. The exhibit opened on April 20 at Bali Dynasty Resort and will run for two months through June 20.

There were also several dance performances by local school children from schools in Sanur and Jimbaran who joined together at the resort’s Tropical Caf‚ in a combined effort to raise money for EBPP’s Bali Dynasty supported education program in Pengalusan hamlet as Michele Cempaka explains in a Jakarta Post article.

The painting exhibition presents the artwork of children from Pengalusan and Cegi schools who live in two remote mountain villages that are located between Mt. Agung and Mt. Abang.

EBPP, which organized this special children’s painting exhibition, supplied the children simply with A3 drawing paper and donated acrylic paints.

The children were told to go outside and gaze upon the picturesque landscape before them and “draw what you see and feel.”

The outcome can be seen in how each child has created moving paintings that tell us stories about their lives as they are now, showing the contrast between the developing stages of their lives from 1998 to 2004.

“These young artists are the first generation in the history of their region to experience a curriculum that includes subjects such as health, hygiene, nutrition and organic farming, as well as art,” said Sarita of Saritaksu Editions.

The Art of Learning by Doing, a book that was launched in September 2005, illustrates how these children have gradually developed their skills in drawing and painting even though they had never previously received instruction from a qualified teacher.

One day in 2001, Made Budhiana, a Balinese artist, and his friends, gave the children a wonderful day’s introduction to art and its many mediums.

Made still volunteers about once a month, although he primarily trains five children in Bunga who started education in 1999 and have graduated Kejar Paket B (setara SMP) last June.

The painting titled Periksa Gigi (dental health examination) by I Nengah Sudana is a humorous rendering of a child with mouth opened wide as he receives a checkup by a dentist.

Pelihara Sapi (cattle breeding) by I Ketut Tunas is rich with colors as the sky burns red with the setting sun and bright yellow birds fly past a boy who stands next to his cattle — the smaller cow looks as if it is floating in the sky.

Gotong Royong (Working Together) by Nengah Toya, is a lovely painting of the villagers working together on a dirt road lined with many olive-colored trees.

The deep blue of the mountains is set against a yellow sky. While all of these children come from an extremely impoverished background, we get a glimpse of the hope they have for their future.

The children have constructed all of their own frames from recycled materials such as cardboard from Dancow milk cartons for the backing of the frames and lovely bamboo that was off-cut waste.

Bali Dynasty Resort has been actively involved in supporting EBPP since 2000, and has managed to raise nearly Rp 750 million, which has aided in the education of nearly 200 children.

During the two-month exhibition period, anyone can purchase a painting through auction by either filling in the painting auction form at the hotel’s reception or online at www.balidynasty.com.

The highest bidders of each painting will be announced on June 20. Total sales achieved from all painting sales from this exhibit will be allocated to the Bali Dynasty Charity Effort to provide further support to EBPP children’s education and welfare.

EBPP was established in 1998 by David Booth, prioritizing the health and education of children living in East Bali who were in dire need of basic necessities, such as safe drinking water, education and good health.

For more information on EBPP email: info@eastbalipovertyproject.org or visit www.eastbalipovertyproject.org

Michele Cempaka