Crafts. Unlike painting and woodcarving much of the production of which is stimulated by a foreign market, the traditional craft of Bali serve no other purpose than to provide beauty for the grand occasions and Holidays so anticipated by the people.

One of the most prominent and least recognized forms of artistry among the Balinese is their rich and imaginative "transitory art". Who wouldn't be amazed after spending two weeks in a village where everyone was rushing about to prepare for cremation, to watch all the sumptuous decorations -tower, sarcophagus, naga serpent, everything- go up in smoke just like that? The Balinese of course.
So much of their creative work is made with no thought that it should endure, but that should only serve. Take offering, for example. Woman spend hours for creating lace patterns of palmleaf and pyramids of fruits and flowers to show reverence to the deities during temple feasts. After the offering have been received in the temple, they are either taken home and eaten, or left in heaps on the ground for hungry dogs to scavenge. Even in the scattered palmleaf ornaments left over from ceremony one can see the exceptional taste and sense of design that went into their making. It is these selfless acts of creativity which remain bound to the original conception of the arts -to the beauty life in service to one religion and community.

In the casual nonchalance with which the Balinese approach their art one almost forgets the extraordinary artistic achievement that is involved in the daily routine of the community. Be it an informal rehearsal of a play, the mastery of a neglected temple carving, or necklaces of bone displayed in sales stands, the Balinese instill design and style in all they do. This alone makes their art and craft unique.

Nowadays....
One can still find carving and sculptures incorporating religious content and purpose at Balinese temples. Balinese culture and crafts are not two different end of the poles but a continuum. Hindu art is an imitation of life and history.

There were now new patrons of the arts, and the artists made works that were commodities instead of items of religious use or content. This has an important impact on the production of crafts which could now be made with free themes and content.

ideaCraft is a cooperative gallery located in Ubud, Bali. This is the starting time for us to introduce ourselves to the world thru internet. We hope that our products may well suited you, just like our other customers and we currently only sale our products in wholesale basis.

Each piece in this inviting fine craft gallery is uniquely designed and made by individual craftsmen, most of them are from Bali and Central Java Island with affordable prices and good quality.

We accept special requests, please click on contact us and submit your questions and queries, we will get a quote back to you as soon as possible.

I Ketut Sunarta

"Our hope is to make good, quality ceramic products at an affordable price and to stay constantly creative, using new ideas all the time."