Sawidji supports traditional and contemporary artists whilst inspiring innovative collaborations. Knowledge sharing and dynamic interactions provide a great home base for the creative spirit.
For artists without economic independence, the creation of their art is not free. Its purity is compromised by the very real need to make a living and make concessions to cater to a market.
Dewi Dian
Sawidji Values
Fine Arts
Cultivating art purely for art. Sawidji is about nurturing artists in their creative journey. By providing a community platform that connects and provides cross-platform resources both within local and digital networks.
Appropriate Commercial Channels
We do this by uniting our resources to strengthen networks and identify appropriate commercial projects that nurture our creativity without undermining artistic integrity.
Knowledge Sharing
Everyday, our practice of art continues to teach us something. Just as important is sharing our knowledge. That our community and others may find the same joy, that Art may be the bridge to connect each other.
About Sawidji’s Objective
We believe artists in our community should have a plausible choice. To practice art for no other condition than simply, to develop their art. Not constricted by economic or social factors that may restrict creative independence. By nurturing positive and transparent systems that promote collaboration and originality, we can begin to minimise the numbing effect of commercial art for the market. Inject a fresh challenge to embrace a true creative spirit again.
Learn more about Sawidji Artists
Knowledge Sharing is our Bridge
Another view we take is the importance of knowledge sharing as a means for our arts’ survival. In other words, sharing knowledge of traditional techniques and cultural influences so that others may have more understanding of our arts’ cultural and contextual origins.
Sawidji Artists Part of Sawidji Management
Finally, it’s important to emphasise, our gallery, our art and our product designs are brought to you from us collectively, with complete transparency. Our community of artists collaborate to bring our works to you with everyone’s well-being in mind.
We operate on very simple principles. Honesty, Creativity, Empathy and Teamwork. We encourage you to take the time to go to our artists’ page and meet them. They are the reason Sawidji was formed. They are at the heart of Sawidji.
Our Background
Now that we have shared what our values are, you may wonder how it came about. Sawidji Artist Collective is very much a community founded on long standing friendships. Together, facing a particularly difficult crossroad, brought to the fore by the challenges of 2020.
Industries have drastically been affected by covid-19. Prior to this artists have already faced a challenging decline in the demand for original artworks. Moreover, the present condition of fine arts in Bali and its creative authenticity is open to debate. It is in a state of transition.
Tourism, Too Much of a Good Thing?
As a result of a thriving tourism industry, there are both positive and negative impacts. For example, mainstream commercialism resulted in many forms of exploitation of Balinese traditional art and its artists and artisans. This is certainly a negative aspect of authentic artisanship.
Today, the art market in Bali is impacted by fluctuations in tourism. As with the nature of trends, they come and go. The creative fruits of our artists and artisans are reliant on its popularity now, by an industry that is essentially disconnected from the arts. It has tempered the integrity of the creative process. Conditioning artists from all sectors are accustomed to a commercial approach at the onset of the creative process. Understandable, yes. However, when this state is unquestioned and unchallenged for too long, it will breed stagnancy on an intellectual and creative level. This is definitely something that cannot be healthy for the integrity of fine arts.
- Interchangeable Harmonies, a Cili Reflection
The works of Tjandra Hutama features ‘Cili’. One of Bali’s traditional offerings. - Self Discovery Through Unexpected Redundancy
A photographic mosaic of the human experience. With ManButur Suantara. - The Contemporary Human on a Timeless Stage
Art film installations, colour theory, body paint and the wisdom of Wayang. With Dibal Ranuh and Dr. Gusti Sudarta - Indomitable Beings by Dian Dewi Reich
The mind and heart of Indomitable Beings, for Manus a Conscious Journey. Written by Eric Buvelot. - Manus, a Conscious Journey
A Sawidji Collaboration. An exciting multi-disciplinary art exhibition. In partnership with Sudekara Art Space.
