About ManButur Suantara
ManButur Suantara is a Fine Art Photographer, a key pillar of Sawidji and co-founder of Sawidji Studio. A practising professional, artist and mentor in the industry for nearly two decades, his contributions to the many genres of photography are vast. His love for Nature inspires his art as well as environmental and wildlife educational programs such as Tale Feathers Bird Photography Program..
For the love of art and photography
“I have always liked photography.. I often think to myself, ‘how do these people capture these really good images,.how do they make an image so beautiful? I never really knew that much about particular photographers, there was no particular name that was my inspiration. It has always been simply the image… “
~ManButur Suantara
Biography
Born in Amlapura, a small town in the east part of Bali Island. ManButur Suantara is a professional photographer with a strong passion for art and landscape photography. For years now he has explored natures capes through extensive travel.
Besides landscape photography, ManButur has been for many years active in different areas of commercial photography as well. A veteran of several genres including architectural, food, documentary as well as macro photography.
Bali is Nyoman’s home base. With its rich natural beauty and culture. Providing Nyoman with ample themes in which his Landscape and Cultural Photography can truly be seen for its artistic depth.
Awards
- 2nd Place in the F&B Photography Contest Photo / June 26, 2011 in Uma Restaurant, Bali Safari & Marine Park
- 3rd place in the Photography Contest / ViAiPi – Legian-Kuta – Bali 8 December 2011
- Winner #2 in the “2 Arts in 1 Location” event at the Blanco Museum, Ubud – Bali
- 60 Large and 2 selected photos to be exhibited at the Black And White Harris Hotel
- Photo Competition “Simple-Unique-Friendly. Jimbaran by Harris Hill Hotel – Bali
- Winner #2 in the “2 Arts in 1 Location” event at the Blanco Museum, Ubud Bali
- Winner #1 Model Photo contest “Anniversary of the Bali Photographers Association/PFB/Bali Photographer Hunting & Gathering at Lake Tamblingan, Sunday,19 May 2013
- Winner #1 Photo Contest Bali Bike Fest II September 26th 2014
- 3rd Place in Photography Contest – Nusa Penida Festival – The Blue Paradise Island, November 2019
Exhibitions
2010-2013
- Joint Exhibition at “Photo Exhibition Bali KUTABEX” 22-24 June 2012 by Insomania photo on display “Sunset Over Batu Bolong Temple”
- Joint Exhibition at “Sanur Village Festival VI” The New Spirit Of Heritage/Theme: Flower Fiesta 18-22 November 2011 / photo showing “Just For You”
- Joint Exhibition at “Sanur Village Festival VII”–Salampah Performance / theme: Salampah Laku. September – October 7 2012. Photos on display: The Spirit of Legong
- Joint Exhibition at “Denpasar Festival 2012” at the Mayor’s Building – Denpasar photo on display “Morning Activity”
- Joint Exhibition with BALI LANDSCAPER at Conrad Hotel- Bali – Nusa Dua
- Curator and Joint Exhibition 1st Anniversary Photo People Chat / OOF at Studio 7, 14 – 29 September 2013. Photos on display – One by One (Landscape/Nature)
- Joint Exhibition “Sanur Village Festival to VIII”, Theme: Segara Giri/landscape/
- Photos on display “I Will Always Remember You”. September 22 – October 10, 2013.
- Joint Exhibition “Macro – Beautiful Small World / 2nd Anniversary. Bali Macro Photographer Community – at Warung D’Tunjung – Denpasar/Photos on display: The Adventure Of Lady”
- Joint Exhibition- Bali Dancing at Warung D’Tunjung, 10 November – 12 December 2013 Denpasar Bali/photo on display: Barong And Rangda
- Joint Exhibition “Bali Macro Photographer Community” at Butterfly Park–Tabanan – Bali.
2014-2019
- Joint Exhibition “Denpasar Festival – Morning Of The World”/Photo on display “Puspa Line in the Measuring Procession at Matahari Terbit Beach – Sanur” 28 December – 1h J January 2014
- Joint Exhibition with Sanur Village Festival 10th at Santrian Art Gallery.Theme “Suci” 21 August – 5 Sept 2015 Photos on display “Dance With My Soul”
- Joint Exhibition at Tirtagangga Festival – Dancing with Soul. 24th -26th August 2017
- Joint Exhibition with the KPK (Karangasem Photographer Community) at Taman Ujung Festival 2018
- Joint Exhibition with Sanur Village Festival 2018 at Griya Santrian Gallery “Mandala Giri”
- Joint Exhibition with KPK (Karangasem Photographer Community) Karangasem City Birthday June 2019
2021-Present
- Collaboration Exhibition at Sawidji Gallery -Ubud with the theme “Red Chair And White Room” 17 August – September 2022
- Collaborative Exhibition at Sawidji Gallery “Kala & The Guardian” 15 December 2023 – 15 January 2023
- “World without Sound, an Anthology” Group Exhibition at Sawidji Gallery, Ubud, Bali. April 16 2023 May 16th 2023
- Collaborative Exhibition at Sawidji Galery “Sawidji Come Home” 17 Sept 2023 – 12 Oct 2023, Photo on display “Raise From The Ashes
- Collaborative Exhibition, “MANUS, A Conscious Journey“, at Sudakara Art Space-Sudamala Resort –SANUR. December 15, 2023 – February 3, 2024
- Joint Exhibition “Besakih Festival 2023, at Besakih Temple.
- Joint Exhibition with PSG (Perkumpulan Senifoto Gianyar ), at Siadja Gallery-Ubud December 2023
- Joint Exhibition with the KPK (Komunitas Photographer Karangasem) at the LONTAR MUSEUM- Karangasem
- Collaborative Exhibition with Sawidji Gallery & Santrian Art Gallery at Santrian Art Gallery. Theme “CULMINATION” 10 May – 29 June 2024.
- ISI Denpasar Exhibition as Guest Lecturer with the theme “Manawa Manu Mahardika” located at ISI Denpasar on May 16 2024
Sawidji Studio
Manbutur Suantara and Dian Dewi Reich have joined in a wonderful initiative to form Sawidji Studio. A creative, explorative space that focuses on programs and services under the Sawidji umbrella. This project is exciting.
- Collaborative Fine Art Photography Collaborations and Conceptual Exhibitions.
- Custom workshops and mentorship programs.
- With a focus on Nature, Art and Culture and inclusivity within the education system.
Black and White Photography
Looking at the world in black and white is a whole new experience and takes us back to the pure joy of photography. The world in its simplest visual essence, shadow and light.
Enjoy Black & White Photography together with Sawidji Studio, mentored by ManButur Suantara and Dian Dewi Reich.
ManButur’s passion for wildlife photography together with Sawidji’s brings to you ‘Tale Feathers’ Bird Photography Program. Photography and conservation. ManButur’s research and exploration of bird species in Bali. Whether they are endemic or migrating birds, Nyoman is contributing significant time to explore and capture images of them in their habitat as a record for their species.
Bali has more than a million marvels to explore. While we often think of this Indonesian island’s fascinating culture, we shouldn’t overlook its nature – especially its fauna and, more specifically, its birds. With over a hundred bird species—some endemic and others stopping over during their migratory journeys—Bali is a haven for bird enthusiasts. Why not embark on a bird photography trip led by a professional photographer proficient in ornithology? Read the Full Article in Indonesia Expat.
Article by Eric Buvelot
Related Sawidji Collaborations
Culmination | Calm In Nation
Culmination | Calm In Nation, a Sawidji Collaboration. A multi-disciplinary art exhibition from 10th May to 29th June 2024. In partnership with Santrian Art Gallery. Featuring national and international artists and writers. Officiated by Ida Bagus Gede Sidharta Putra. Inaugurated by Popo Danes. Program and curation by Dian Dewi Sawidji Gallery.
Manus, a Conscious Journey
A Sawidji Collaboration. A multi-disciplinary art exhibition from 15th December 2023 to 3rd February 2024. In partnership with Sudekara Art Space. Featuring artists Dibal Ranuh, Made Kaek, ManButur Suantara, Tjandra Hutama and Dian Dewi.
Photography, a Conversation
How did it all start, this life as a photographer?
I have been a photographer from the time photography was still analog. Actually, for a time I stopped because I had no camera… and started again by helping out a neighbour document a few things with a film camera. Eventually, I bought my DSLR camera in 2009 and that’s when it began.
What kind of photography do you truly enjoy?
Landscape… but the first time I had a camera I tried for many weeks,.. I had some difficulty with technical issues/exposures etc. A landscape on the wide screen is beautiful..
On Macro Photography
Sometimes you just see only what you’re familiar with and you don’t recognise anything special in it. In Bali there are rice terraces everywhere, you might not see the beauty in them anymore…
Until you cut it and get it into a frame… almost the same as the macro. you don’t pay attention to the small things until it is in the framed image. When you take a good photograph with really good technical precision. It may be as close to a perfect image of what you see. Then you see the beauty of it…
ManButur Suantara
Photography Leading to Nature
As time goes by, I experience different things through the journey of photography. Gathering with friends and there are also flows and trends. You join your friends, for a time I did portrait photography. but looking back, I didn’t see where I was going at that time. I worked with people and portrait photography. But I did not see the point of people photography, so I returned to the landscape. Nature and Landscape Photography. ~ ManButur Suantara
on Black and White Photography..
The more I explored, the deeper I got into photography…I don’t know how to describe it. It was my thoughts, my questions when I looked at many black and white images ‘which one is good and which one is not in black and white?’
What makes a particular photograph ART? You can say that a good photograph is good for the client and then there is good for yourself. You can not say that it’s good for everyone, that is not always possible. When it’s good for the client, this is when you meet and fill their needs and expectations. A job well done. But in this case, you might not be meeting or filling your own creative needs.
How do you feel about the effects of technology and the fast pace at which it is changing and impacting the art of photography?
I simply see that your tools are expanding. Which allows you to expand your art. In the question of ‘art’ in photography, every individual will have a different conclusion of what that is. If you want to create art just create. Your medium, your process is what can expand wider and wider.
If you’re talking about pure photography… you just have to let time do its job, pure photography is simply about taking a picture of a moment. You take the photograph of the moment because time just flies, immediately after capture, that moment is gone.
ManButur Suantara
Explore other features of ManButur Suantara’s art.
I Hear You Tree
Featuring the Art of ManButur Suantara
Related Articles
- https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2023/09/18/merayakan-interaksi-di-tengah-kota-denpasar
- https://metrobali.com/pameran-foto-landscape-segara-giri-sanur-village-festival-8/
- https://agencyfish.com/Garuda_Colours_Magazine/2015/June/#p=28
- https://literasipost.com/sawidji-dan-santrian-art-gallery-hadirkan-pameran-seni-culmination/
- https://timesindonesia.co.id/gaya-hidup/495250/kolaborasi-seniman-di-griya-santrian-sanur-bali-pamerkan-keindahan-sastra-dan-seni
- https://beritafajartimur.com/2024/05/11/pameran-lukisan-kelompok-multidisiplin-karya-seniman-dan-penulis-digelar-di-santrian-art-gallery-ini-kata-dian-dewi-reich-selaku-kurator/
- https://www.nusabali.com/berita/167025/hadirkan-pameran-seni-culmination
- https://www.baliwara.com/seni-budaya/90111206390/manus-a-conscious-journey-lima-seniman-pameran-kolaborasi-di-sudakara-artspace-sanur
- https://indonesiaexpat.id/outreach/conservation-other/a-bird-photography-trip-with-a-pro-on-the-island-of-gods/