Danas Beauty

Artist: Ketut Dana

Ketut Dana is a Balinese traditional wood carver from childhood. For some years he has had to leave carving to work in construction to survive. This year, together with Sawidji in Dana’s Beauty, Ketut is returning to his artistic roots. And most happily looking forward to finding new beautiful pieces in the wood.

More About Ketut Dana

Danas Beauty explores the joy in returning to something we love..

Danas Beauty is a collection that celebrates the return to something we love. Especially if we had no other choice but to leave it through no wish of our own. For example, even these pieces left unfinished for years were not abandoned. Ketut Dana’s Buddhas are cherished. They carry their own story. Having waited patiently to reveal their inner faces.

Buddha Dana - Medium Natural — After many years absent from sculpting, the return to his first calling is one that brings its own contentment. Ketut Dana’s personal affinity with the carving of Buddha sculptures, is very evident in the modest yet enchanting beauty of his creations. Now they are taking form again.

The sculptures in Danas Beauty Collection are shown here in the raw, made of Panggar Buaya (Crocodile Wood). The white smooth texture of the wood is shown here polished and buffed to the utmost perfection. With no varnish, no lacquer no coating of any kind. Ketut Dana’s Buddhas show themselves here with no cover whatsoever.

Buddha Dana Medium — Buddha Dana Side, Front and Back View.

A Note About Crocodile Wood

The three Buddhas in Danas Beauty is carved out of Crocodile Wood. Crocodile Wood is also sometimes referred to as the Ivory of Woods because of the similarity of color and smooth finish of the two trees. Both yield surprisingly easy-to-carve wood of medium hardness.

Crocodile wood is also interesting in that the heart is sometimes a stunning shade of purple. To find out more why this artist prefers this wood for his pieces, visit Ketut’s Artist Profile.

Sawidji Collaboration

In returning to wood carving, Ketut has returned to some variations of sculptures he has made in the past as well. These pieces were commissioned by Sawidji Gallery specifically for a collaborative project. This is the ‘Joy’ Series.