Metastability through Tri Hita Karana: Sustaining Balinese art and Culture

Abstract

Tri Hita Karana means three causes of happiness, which is to achieve balance and harmony in life. The purpose of this research is to present a concept and strategy for the development of art for Bali as a small island that has a strong and big impact on traditional art based on Animism, Hindu, and Buddhist religious beliefs. This cultural heritage is something static and becomes a classical value (stability). Meanwhile, the power of globalization and the tourist industry which is the impact of the development of information technology requires enormous changes so rapidly in a short time, that there is a concern about marginalizing and losing the quality of traditional art and too much production with less creation in a new art (instability). To overcome this, Tri Hita Karana implemented metastability to sustain Balinese art. How to apply the metastability concept in the development of art that can drive dynamic-integrated energy of development that is creating sustainability? The method used in this research is interpretative, qualitative, and participatory, to find the meaning contained therein. As a result, art does not have to remain static or stable, nor does art have to be over-exposed to mass production, or commodification for material gain. Arts, crafts, and tourist art go according to their respective paths. To overcome phenomena like this, it is important to have the concept of balance Tri Hita Karana as the spirit of metastability to sustainability the Balinese art to face globalization.