Step into the vibrant and inspiring world of Ubud, which derives its name from the healing properties at the local river confluence and ignites the artistic visions of Wayan Karja. Born and raised amidst the lush rice fields and rich cultural heritage of Penestenan, Wayan Karja’s journey as an artist began with a deep appreciation for traditional art.
But the call for abstract expressionism in New York truly ignited Karja’s passion, leading him to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of South Florida in 1999.
Diving deeper into human emotions and connection, he pursued studies in expressive art therapy in Switzerland. Influenced by Goethe’s works and Jung’s writings, Karja uses art and color to heal himself and those who seek him out as an art tutor at his studio in Penestanan.
Karja is a true proponent of art as medicine, recognizing the capacity of the creative arts to heal emotional trauma.
Throughout his career, Karja has had frequent solo and joint exhibitions both within Indonesia and abroad, earning him recognition as a leading figure in the world of contemporary art. It is not just his technical skill and formal training that sets Karja apart; his philosophical and cosmological perspective imbues his work with a sense of depth and meaning.
He explores how art can express not just Balinese culture
but also one’s understanding of the cosmos.
He harnesses the power of psychology to bring out the colors and emotions in his work, asking profound questions like how I see myself in the cosmos and how I can bring the simplicity of life into my art, my life, and my feelings.
Karja’s book on Bali’s cosmology was published in 2020 and was a hit.
However, he felt limited by the language barrier and wished to expand his reach to a global audience through an English translation. His dream came true in 2022 when he met Julia Lawrence-Chant, an expert in translation who helped him to reach a global audience with his book.
This synchronistic meeting reminded Karja that, “sometimes what we desire comes to us in unexpected ways.”
Confluence of East and West
Fate brought Julia Lawrence-Chant, an Oxford-trained psychologist, poet, painter, and shamanic practitioner, to Bali. She had recently arrived from France and was introduced to Karja by a South African friend. As soon as she entered Karja’s studio, she was struck by the high vibration of his paintings, so much so that her voice picked up the frequency and sang it out.
This chance encounter sparked a conversation between Karja and Julia about the healing power of sound and art.
They realized that the contents of Karja’s 2020 book on the cosmology of Bali could not only be translated but also adapted for a wider audience interested in the culture of Bali and its many healing modalities.
Together, they are now working on creating a toolkit for therapists wanting to develop their art as medicine skills and techniques, complete with supporting workshops. This collaboration is a living force of confluence in motion, bringing together East and Western cultures, balancing male and female, and harmonizing traditional and contemporary practices.”
“Cosmology Bali” is a book that seamlessly weaves together the diverse strands of contemporary art, exploring how it enriches and elevates our individual and collective energy and spirit.
It will be a must-have for any traveller seeking beauty, inspiration, and captivation on their journey to Bali and beyond. The title, ‘CONFLUENCE’, perfectly embodies the union of the various themes explored in the book, much like the merging of two rivers of equal width.
“The creative mind plays with the object it loves”
– C G Jung
