Return to Hulu
A conversation with Wayan Suastama. Featuring a collection of his recent works dedicated to the Balinese philosophical concept of ‘Hulu-Teben‘. Article by Dewi Dian Reich,
This post relates to the artist’s deep connection to the Balinese philosophical concept of ‘Hulu-Teben’ and the profound inspiration it provides for his work.
For an artist to hold to a philosophy that permeates through his paintings.. not of self.. not of a style.. but this concept of the philosophy of ‘Hulu-Teben’ which translates to ‘upstream and downstream reflects a strong conviction of these values. Wayan Suastama shares his thoughts behind the rich, surreal visuals of his most recent works.
A Return to Hulu, a Return to the Beginning
“To return to ‘Hulu’ (‘upstream’) means we are returning to the beginning. Hulu begins there. .. Indirectly it is brought about by the conditions we face today.. in nature,.. issues with the environment,.. farming.. the issues I’ve discussed before.. my memories of my parents.. my childhood in a farming family, it starts from this system of subak. The development of the harvest starts from there. Hulu. It is also the same with any system or plan. When you plant seeds, divide the water from the beginning. In the rice fields, there are square fields. The first one is located at ‘Hulu’, at the very top, this square field is considered holy. All the ceremonies are held here. This square piece of rice terrace is not allowed to be converted into anything else. This one at ‘Hulu’ remains constant.”
Water and a Map for Living
“It comes back to the fact that water is the origin. This is also shown in terrace sharing. There is an evenness and harmony in the division of water in terraces.. how the water divides amongst each level is equal and balanced. From this farming philosophy, you can translate to social interactions for healthy economic growth, good harvest , and good plant growth.. the system is laid out and it all begins in Hulu.”
“Simplified.. you can draw the correlation between our awareness.. our life actions through our behaviour. Remember our origin, and remember our Ancestors.. we can derive many pearls of wisdom and teachings from this concept and extract this to overlap with our life experiences. It is a map for living.”
Wayang Dewi Acrylic on canvas 40cm x40cm
“This is about Dewi Sri.. is just a slightly different symbolic representation… She is a blessing… How do we carry out the blessing given to us with satisfaction and with gratitude? Wayang is a philosophy of life. Dewi symbolises the earth and womb.. where all is born.. gives birth to life and all its creations..”
White Figure Acrylic on canvas 60cmx80cm
“Reflects many different characters. what grows and what exists is not always of the same mind and intention. There are many different characters in the world and they don’t always feel the same way as we do. The figures are not always facing the front.. this is influenced by two-dimensional wayang cutouts.. you can say they are mirroring aspects of the puppet just acting not thinking of things in the complete dimension of consequences. perhaps many human actions are like this.”
Mind, the Point of Origin
“Life begins with water. In my work, there are symbols of beginning. This is sometimes represented by the head. Whatever it is we do it begins from our thinking. How we think. Our mindset. All plans will take shape from the nature of the seed.. the seed here is our mind, our thoughts and intention. What things will become how they will develop and grow depends on this point of origin.”
Tree Acrylic on canvas 130cmx150cm
“People are all hanging off the branches of trees, we are dependent on trees to live. An ode to trees and forests. Garuda, with hints of a Romanesque style.. encompassing universal identities.. from tribal to European to Indonesian and Asian. Native aboriginal patterns and 3d perspective of European art. history are also Hulu. Water perhaps was an issue even before in history.”
In farming we guard the balance from Hulu we hold this firmly to safeguard the water source.. the water source can be said to be protected by the forest. we have to protect forests to protect our water source. In farming to safeguard the balance with natural resources, we have to protect forests.
Flower in the Forest Acrylic on canvas 80cmx100cm
“Forests give us enlightenment in our lives and we need to take care of this well.. protecting the forests. the purity of the forest.”
About the Artist
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.
“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.”
~Wayan Suastama
Beautiful Art and Writing,,,