About Bruce Granquist
Bruce Granquist is an artist, cartographer, illustrator, writer and publisher. Bruce is originally from Chicago and has lived in Bali since 1986. With extensive contributions towards sharing and raising knowledge for the art and culture of Bali with a portfolio of publications.
Humanness is the active stance within the limits of forces larger than one’s self. It is the resignation and the light of being blown by the big wind while creating movements that express the individual’s unique flavour as a piece of broken symmetry.
Bruce Granquist
Biography
Bruce Granquist’s diversity in talents makes for some ambiguity in how he is perceived as an artist. This is a result of his dexterity in visual language, literary and scientific as well. These elements come together and are characteristic of a complex, humorous and voracious mind. Highly focused when intent on a subject, this is perhaps what makes him the celebrated cartographer, and illustrator that he is. It is interesting that despite his renowned skills for beautiful hand-drawn cartography and magical illustrations for all things Bali, it is in his abstract work that Bruce Granquist feels most completely himself.
Education
- Illinois Wesley University
- Northern Illinois University
- St Olaf College graduated with Distinction
- International Exchange, Asian Art Major 1980–1982
Exhibitions
- 1985 – Faculty exhibition, St Olaf
- 1990 – Singapore Art Festival
- 1991 – Singapore National Museum
- Exhibition at Ary’s Warung, Bali, Indonesia
- 2003 – Exhibition at Danes Art Verana
- Exhibition at Aman Kila Gallery
Publications
- 1993 Thailand Guidebook. Cartographer and Illustrator. Published by Gallimard
- 1995 Bali Guidebook.Cartographer and Illustrator. Published by Gallimard
- 1995 Fruits of Indonesia. Illustrator. Published by Buku Antara Bangsa
- 1995 Volume 1- 6. Project Design Co-Ordinator. Published. Buku Antar Bangsa (1995-2003)
- 2003 Topographic Map of Bali. Self-published
- 2011 The Paintings of Batuan. Self Published
- 2023 Mapping Bali. Published Talisman
A Conversation with Bruce
What do you value most from your work in cartography? Even though this was a career-driven choice, did it help you grow unexpectedly as a free and expressive artist?
“To be honest, the value I put on a mapping project is the money I can get from it. That being said, making maps gives me a deep feeling of satisfaction. For me, the challenge of cartography is to capture the three-dimensional qualities of a particular place onto a two-dimensional surface.” ~Bruce Granquist
What did you learn about Bali that you did not know before through your work as a cartographer/illustrator?
“The work of an illustrator has been changed fundamentally by GPS products. It is important to isolate the projects that would be most appropriate for computer-generated imagery, and the other projects as hand-drawn images.” ~Bruce Granquist
In what ways are abstract expression and mapping the same?
“For myself, I keep the two separate. An illustration is done to illuminate a given object, it is not how I feel about something. An abstract painting is almost entirely how I feel about something. My effort is to make something unique.”~Bruce Granquist
How is America and Indonesia different and how are they the same?
“I have lived the majority of my life in Indonesia, so I don’t know much about America, except that many people are often worried about political climates. The Indonesians also have political concerns and the role of social media that is involved in all aspects of life.” ~Bruce Granquist
In what way do you think our contributions as artists can be a positive element in these changing times?
“Artists have a unique responsibility. Using a vast array of nonverbal forms. For example, forms that construct and reflect, forms that swing and rotate, etc. An artist has the opportunity to synthesize these forms into new creations that anyone can understand if they are patient enough to look.” ~ Bruce Granquist
“This work is showing that two forms must be separate and yet part of a unified whole.” ~Bruce Granquist
Bruce Granquist is most himself in the creation of his abstract works. These compositions have layers. They are fusions of calligraphy, pattern, and textures all combining and somehow revealing humour, observations and contemplations. In their surrender to the power of chance, they are never separate from spontaneous anomalies that occur during the process.
Bruce Granquist Related Events and Articles
The current projects and events that Bruce is working on is developing a variety of art projects together with Sawidji. Keep posted for Bruce Granquist’s writings, art and upcoming book launch.
