Lot Essay
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai once was the house boy of the Swiss painter Theo Meier after he came to Sanur Beach in 1935. At that time, Sanur was beginning to establish itself as Bali's first beach resort. Foreign visitors to Bali would make the trip from the luxury of Denpasar's Bali Hotel (owned by the K.P.M.) to visit either the home of the Belgian painter le Mayeur, or the aquarium and art gallery of the German brothers Hans and Rolf Neuhaus (by the Balinese nicknamed 'Tuan Bé'). This establishment ('Toko Neuhaus') became successfull by selling ink drawing by local artists of profane subjects, thus cultivating a group of artists later recognized as the 'School of Sanur'.
The Sanur School included Nyoman Griya, the first of arists painting in a distinctive Sanur style, Gusti Rundu who made Escher-like interlocking animals, Sukari, Pugug and others.
The name Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai is not to be found in among collections from the first Sanur-era, simply because he went by another name given to him by Theo Meier. This name was Ida Bagus Thinking, which the Balinese changed into Ida Bagus Klinking. Rai referred to himself as the court painter of Meier, who's influence is evident in his early work, by scenes of local daily life in Meier's house. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Rai moved with Meier, to his house in Iseh, which before had belonged to Walter Spies. During the struggle for Indonesian Independence and the politcal turmoil of the 50's and 60's, few tourists came to Bali, but Rai managed to sell an occasional painting. This would change in the 60's when the Australian artist Donald Friend came to Bali. Rai continued to work under the patronage of Friend, who he assisted to incorporate Sanur themes into his art. Allthough Rai had received encouragement by Meier and Friend, Rai asserted that he had never been influenced by other styles, and this is perhaps the basis of his unique work. The naive but masterly black and white paintings are striking for their unusual compositions an humurous subject matters.
The Sanur School included Nyoman Griya, the first of arists painting in a distinctive Sanur style, Gusti Rundu who made Escher-like interlocking animals, Sukari, Pugug and others.
The name Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai is not to be found in among collections from the first Sanur-era, simply because he went by another name given to him by Theo Meier. This name was Ida Bagus Thinking, which the Balinese changed into Ida Bagus Klinking. Rai referred to himself as the court painter of Meier, who's influence is evident in his early work, by scenes of local daily life in Meier's house. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Rai moved with Meier, to his house in Iseh, which before had belonged to Walter Spies. During the struggle for Indonesian Independence and the politcal turmoil of the 50's and 60's, few tourists came to Bali, but Rai managed to sell an occasional painting. This would change in the 60's when the Australian artist Donald Friend came to Bali. Rai continued to work under the patronage of Friend, who he assisted to incorporate Sanur themes into his art. Allthough Rai had received encouragement by Meier and Friend, Rai asserted that he had never been influenced by other styles, and this is perhaps the basis of his unique work. The naive but masterly black and white paintings are striking for their unusual compositions an humurous subject matters.