Wayan Suastama

Wayan Suastama in His Own Words

The hardest part of creating is the development of self-awareness. We have to focus towards that. We have a lot of conflicts in our society, and we have to interact and negotiate to live within the community.

Wayan Suastama

Biography

Wayan Suastama is a painter born in Lalanglinggah, Tabanan, Bali, 1972. He studied fine arts at ISI Denpasar. Since 1995 he has been diligent in displaying his works in joint and solo exhibitions, both at home and abroad, such as the Bali Megarupa (2019) exhibition. In 2000, his work entered the final of the Philip Morris Art Award.

Wayan Suastama and the Art of Introspection

In pursuit of art, I wished to have a better understanding, so I went to SMSR Batubulan Denpasar. I didn’t have the ambition to be a painter or this or that, I just wanted to understand art better. In fact, in SMSR I chose to study graphics and communications. This was a study of typography and graphics.

Early Education

When I graduated from SMSR I didn’t understand painting yet at that stage. I was focused on the commercial aspect of graphics at that time. Usable art. Ordered art. I did work in multimedia graphics for several years, but I had a lot of interaction with painters. I was drawn to learn more about painting. So after three years of SMSR I continued my tertiary studies at ISI Denpasar. I focused on studying painting at ISI Denpasar from 1995, and I continue to study and learn about painting from then until now. 

Throughout my education, my purpose was to deepen my understanding. I developed my visual understanding and it wasn’t until the last year of graduation that I began to develop conceptual aspects in my art. There was a lot of socialising with senior artists. You understand the importance of opening up yourself to continue to learn.

Balance (Keseimbangan Harmoni’) Acrylic on canvas by Wayan Suastama, 2001. This piece was completed in the final year of the artists’ tertiary studies at Institute of Fine Arts Denpasar.

What is Art for Wayan Suastama?

Firstly, it is just a representation of a personal dialogue in a visual way. It is indirectly also a therapeutic exercise for me. One example, through the art process I feel that you will feel closer to nature. Because everything we learn from nature. Nature gives much knowledge teaching about self-awareness and social consciousnes. And we can see that mentoring from nature through nature’s responses. If a person is stressed, maybe they go to a natural environment to relax. In a similar way. I have to go to the canvas and through visualisation of that on the canvas I find a certain sense of peace. It fills this space of living creatively. 

What is the most difficult aspect of your artistic nature?

The hardest part of creating is the developmetnof self-awareness. We have to focus towards that. We have a lot of conflicts in our society, and we have to interact and negotiate to live creatively within the community. But being creative and being an artist is a a choice and responsibility to live accordingly to that, in a professional way with integrity. What I mean by professional is not simply art for personal satisfaction but that it has a role in society. So we have to open ourselves and also be part of this wider context and undertake our appreciation of what goes on around us.

What blocks your creative energy?

I don’t find that anything blocks it. I don’t have any deep frustration with my art.. because I surrender to it. When a little frustration arises sometimes, it is still positive because it motivates further development. 

Woman

In the last years of my formal education, I developed concepts centred on the feminine and woman. To evolve this theme I understood that woman is not a person or beauty but expressed as a symbol of life and nature. The woman is the mother, woman is the womb, the womb of Nature. So that has continued to be my development and theme that I explore in my art.

Through the creative process, you learn to have honest conversations with yourself. That leads inevitably to peace in your life. That’s a gift of positivity.

Art with a happy heart.

The Constancy of Change in the art of Wayan Suastama

My previous work had a lot of influences, a lot from cubism during a certain period. However, that is just an exploration of my visual journey and expression. Why cubism? because I do not have a set character in my art that has to be this way or that way. It is always changing, even now my mind wants it to change. Perhaps that is my weakness. I quickly wish to change and grow. Some things require more time to mature and settle. I do not want to tie myself to a particular style because I need to be free. Whatever I create is a good representation of my feeling and thought and can make the heart happy.

The significance of artistic empathy within art communities

When I began to know Sawidji there is a lot of hope that rose in me, Perhaps I am too comfortable with my process. When Sawidj can empathise with this artistic process, it is very meaningful to an artist. That you have someone who understands what it is that I am hoping for. My hope is modest. To have someone voice my work in an artistic language that correctly represents my thoughts and feelings. The language is based on a mutual relationship of understanding. Sawidji speaks accurately about where I am coming from. This is something I am grateful for.

I have a modest hope. I don’t have huge ambitions.. it is something about connectedness. Whether it be with nature and social interconnectedness but this needs channels that are on the same frequency. Working together makes it even better. Because I can not theorise my art too much. I only communicate what I think honestly. 

Wayan Suastama

KWAS ART STUDIO

Wayan Suastama is the founder of Kwas Studio which also provides screen printing and merchandising services. Image transfer on T-Shirts and other apparel. Custom orders are available.

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