Despite news of heavy rain and flooding in nearby Denpasar the day before, it was perfectly sunny when Bali’s first contemporary art fair opened on September 12. The prayers from three priests, hired by the organisers of the event to ensure clear weather, must have worked.
Over the course of three days, more than 150 artists – a 70/30 split from Indonesia and abroad – were showcased in an art fair that was more akin to a festival, with around 50 programmes including performances, talks and workshops aimed at bringing art to the public.
In addition to an indoor gallery, the inaugural edition of Art & Bali extended into other parts of Nuanu Creative City, a tourism and lifestyle hub founded by Russian businessman Sergey Solonin.
Immersive art experiences featured in the Aurora Media Park, a large outdoor area that is home to the THK Tower, a 30-metre-high (98-foot) rattan and wood tower designed by French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani with Balinese artist Chiko Wirahadi, to honour the local philosophy of harmony between people, nature and the divine.
According to Art & Bali director Kelsang Dolma, the fair was launched to build a meaningful exchange between culture and commerce.