Women, Tradition and Art History in Bali

Abstract

This article explores gender in relation to the art historical narrative of Balinese painting. Taking the practice of key artists from Kamasan village as a focus, it looks at generational change in artistic production, the gendered flows of ideas, the negotiation of hierarchies and the embodied relationship to narrative. Women actively circumvent the hierarchies that define ideas about artistic practice through participation in formal art school training, membership of art collectives, engagement with art collectors/patrons, and exhibitions. Furthermore, I suggest that a specific focus on the place of gender in traditional art enables us to see how painting has created enhanced opportunities for women to change aspects of traditional relationships.