Photo: The opening ceremony of B-GAAD III 2026 at the Nretya Mandala Open-Air Stage, ISI BALI, Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
All programs of the third Bali-Global Axis of Arts and Design (B-GAAD III) 2026, initiated by the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI BALI) and held from October 26 to 30, concluded successfully and generated an enthusiastic response. Over five days of activities, B-GAAD III, themed Roh-Rong-Reh: “Soul-Space-Sincerity (Jiwa-Jagat-Junjung),” received widespread appreciation and further strengthened the bonds of fellowship among academic communities of arts and design institutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
The opening of B-GAAD III took place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Nretya Mandala Open-Air Stage, ISI BALI, and was marked by The Colossal World Gamelan Celebration, a gamelan concert entitled Wakya-Rong-Wahyu (The Rhythm of the Universe). The concert brought together five gamelan compositions by internationally acclaimed composers Nyoman Windha, Dewa Putu Berata, Ketut Suryatini, Ketut Garwa, and Jeremy Grimshaw, alongside a vocal composition by Gusti Putu Sudarta.
The concert presented a diverse range of Balinese gamelan ensemble traditions, featuring Gender Wayang, Selonding, Gong Gede, and Gong Semara Dana “Damuh Tuwuh” ensembles. These traditional ensembles were integrated with various gamelan instruments and musical traditions from around the world, including Jegog, Tawa-tawa, Neonolin, Busi, Selentem, Javanese Gambang, African Djembe, Nusantara Rebana, flute, Rebab, and violin.
“B-GAAD III prioritizes togetherness, precision, excellence in achievement, and cross-national fellowship throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The theme Roh-Rong-Reh explores the meaning of the existence of the soul and body, intertwined with sincerity and the concept of monoduality, which resonates throughout all the programs,” explained ISI BALI Rector, Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana.
In her report, Chair of the B-GAAD III Organizing Committee, Dr. Kadek Dwiyani, stated that the implementation of nine B-GAAD III programs involved 1,616 participants from 12 countries. These programs comprised Bali-Global Innovative Design Map Exhibition (B-GIDME), Bali-Global Art Map Exhibition (B-GAME), B-GAAD’s Leader Summit, Bali-Global Arts and Design Symposium (B-GADS), Bali-Global Performing Arts Map (B-GPAM), Bali-Global Encounter Figure (B-GEF), Bali-Global Authentic Trip (B-GAT), Bali-Global Expo and Job Fair (B-GEJF), and the World Cultural Carnival. Participants included international university delegations, symposium speakers, leader summit participants, visual arts and design exhibitors, as well as performers in concerts, carnivals, and workshops.
The opening night celebration also featured a video mapping presentation created by ISI BALI lecturers and students, which artistically incorporated Candi Bhuwana Citta through an elaborate visual composition and carefully designed lighting. The official inauguration of B-GAAD III was marked by the signing of a commemorative poster by ISI BALI leaders, including Senate Chair Prof. Ketut Muka, Vice Rectors Prof. Anak Agung Gde Bagus Udayana, Dr. Made Jodog, and Prof. Komang Sudirga, together with members of the advisory board and international delegates.
The spirit of fellowship fostered through B-GAAD was also reflected in the World Cultural Carnival, which brought together 240 participants from ISI BALI’s undergraduate, applied undergraduate, and postgraduate study programs, alongside international delegations from Brigham Young University, United States, and Phetchaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand.
Photo: ISI BALI Rector, Prof. Dr. Wayan Kun Adnyana, delivering his presentation at the international symposium Sea-ing The Land: Nyegara Gunung, held from September 21 to 28, 2026, at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University.
The Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) at Cornell University, United States, invited the Rector of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI BALI), Prof. Dr. Wayan Kun Adnyana, to serve as a speaker at the international symposium Sea-ing The Land: Nyegara Gunung, held from September 21 to 28, 2026, at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University.
Prof. Kun Adnyana delivered a presentation entitled “Nyegara Gunung: Flowing Lines and the Metaphor of the Vessel,” which explored the artistic iconography of water and waves through line-based visual representations and diverse stylistic approaches in Balinese painting. The symposium was moderated by Professor of Southeast Asian Art History, Prof. Dr. Kaja Maria McGowan.
In addition to Prof. Kun Adnyana, another ISI BALI academic, Dr. I Gusti Sudarta, who also serves as Coordinator of the Theatre Study Program, was invited to present a Plastic Wayang performance as part of the symposium’s accompanying program. Dr. Sudarta collaborated with Professor of Music Prof. Christopher J. Miller and composer Peni Candra Rini. The performance received an enthusiastic response from members of the university community and Cornell University alumni in Ithaca, New York.
Prof. Kun Adnyana’s Victory of Sailing Selected for Cornell Museum’s Permanent Collection
In addition to delivering his academic presentation, Prof. Kun Adnyana’s artwork entitled “Victory of Sailing,” measuring 140 × 160 cm and created using Chinese ink and acrylic on canvas, was selected for the permanent collection of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University. The work joins a collection of approximately 40,000 works of art and visual objects by distinguished artists from various countries, including sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966) and painter Agostino Brunias (1730–1796).
The invitation to participate as a symposium speaker also provided an opportunity for ISI BALI Rector Prof. Kun Adnyana to discuss potential academic collaboration between ISI BALI and SEAP Cornell University. In discussions with SEAP Director Prof. Eric Tagliacozzo, Prof. Kun Adnyana reached an agreement on several collaborative initiatives. These include opportunities for SEAP students to participate in ISI BALI’s international programs, as well as visiting professorship arrangements between the two institutions.
Photo: The ISI BALI delegation at the 13th Indonesian Arts Festival (FKI+) 2026, Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Padangpanjang, West Sumatra.
The Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI BALI) secured eight awards at the 13th Indonesian Arts Festival (FKI+) 2026, held from October 20 to 24, 2026, at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Padangpanjang, West Sumatra. ISI BALI students achieved these accomplishments across various artistic disciplines, including music, fine arts, design, and short filmmaking.
The winners were announced during the closing ceremony of FKI+ XIII 2026 on Saturday (October 24) at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Padangpanjang. These achievements demonstrate the creativity, artistic skills, and competitive capabilities of ISI BALI students at a national festival that brought together students from arts institutions across Indonesia.
The highest distinction was awarded to Marcella Gracia Joana Tasya, a student in the Music Study Program, who won First Place in the Solo Singing Competition. ISI BALI also secured First Place in the Contemporary Music Competition through a collaborative performance involving students from several study programs: Ketut Yogi Wiriatama, I Gede Galih Sastrawan, and I Gede Nova Surya Rahmadi from the Karawitan Arts Study Program; Ni Luh Putu Marselina Damayanti from the Performing Arts Education Study Program; and Ni Kadek Thaly Titi Kasih from the Theatre Study Program.
In the fields of fine arts and design, ISI BALI students continued to demonstrate their artistic excellence. I Kadek Wantaro from the Interior Design Study Program won Second Place in the Architectural Sketching Competition, while I Kadek Agus Aditya Pratama from the Fine Arts Study Program secured Second Place in the Painting Competition. Another Second Place award was earned by I Nyoman Jati Sumarsana from the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Study Program in the Poster Design Competition.
Meanwhile, Ni Made Suanditari from the Fashion Design Study Program won Third Place in the Fashion Design Competition, and Laetitia Gabriella from the Animation Study Program secured Third Place in the Digital Painting Competition. In filmmaking, a team from the Film and Television Production Study Program, comprising Kanaya Khumaira Aisya, I Dewa Putu Nova Andika Putra, I Komang Mahkota Rama Adinata, and Naufall Adithya Islami Pasya, won Third Place in the Short Film Competition.
In addition to the award recipients, ISI BALI students participated in several other competition categories. I Wayan Arwin Pratama from the Photography Study Program represented the institution in photography; Yemima Grace Susanto and Ni Made Dwi Novita Sawitri from the Dance Study Program competed in contemporary dance; I Komang Arthana Anugrah from the Theatre Study Program participated in monologue; and Kadek Yosa Prayoga from the Craft Study Program competed in leather carving. Although they did not secure awards, their participation represented an important opportunity to develop their artistic practices, refine their skills, and gain valuable experience in a national-level competition.
FKI+ XIII 2026 adopted the theme “Art, Folklore, and Ecology” and was organized by the Indonesian Arts Higher Education Institutions Cooperation Agency (BKS-PTSI). Through its participation in the festival, ISI BALI not only showcased its students’ artistic works and talents but also contributed to the exchange of ideas, experiences, and professional networks among students and arts institutions throughout Indonesia.
These eight awards are expected to inspire ISI BALI students to continue creating, innovating, and developing their artistic potential across diverse disciplines. Appreciation is also extended to all students who represented ISI BALI and demonstrated dedication and creativity throughout FKI+ XIII 2026.
Photo caption: The BURU–JIWA–BUMI art exhibition, entitled Bali–Seoul on Dialogue, at Nata-Citta Arts Space (N-CAS), Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI Bali), Friday, 16 October 2026.
The Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI Bali), in collaboration with the Korea–Indonesia Center (KIC), presents the visual arts exhibition BURU–JIWA–BUMI as part of the sixth Bali Padma Bhuwana International Festival. The exhibition is featured in the Bali-Bhuwana Rupa #2 programme, entitled Bali–Seoul on Dialogue. It was officially opened by Anak Agung Gde Rai, founder of the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA), on Friday, 16 October, at Nata-Citta Arts Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali.
The exhibition brings together four artists from Bali and South Korea through ceramics, photography, earthenware, and painting, exploring the relationships between human beings, inner experience, and nature. The participating artists are Prof. Wayan Kun Adnyana, Young Choi, I Ketut Muka Pendet, and Hyonsun Kim. Curated by Prof. Koh Young Hun and Warih Wisatsana, the exhibition transforms differences in cultural backgrounds and artistic media into a space for intercultural dialogue.
In his welcoming remarks as the host representative, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation of ISI Bali, Prof. Dr. Komang Sudirga, stated that the exhibition also reflects the close and sustained relationship between ISI Bali and South Korea. This collaboration has been realised through various academic and artistic initiatives that bring together the communities of both countries.
Photo caption: The BURU–JIWA–BUMI art exhibition, entitled Bali–Seoul on Dialogue, at Nata-Citta Arts Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali, Friday, 16 October 2026.
In 2025, ISI Bali collaborated with KIC, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), and the Korea Association of Malay-Indonesian Studies (KAMIS) to organise the fifth Bali-Bhuwana Waskita International Seminar, entitled Pram–Bhuwana–Prana (Pramoedya–World–Paradigm). The event commemorated the centenary of the birth of Indonesian literary figure Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
Beyond academic collaboration, ISI Bali has also regularly featured works by South Korean photographers in various exhibitions, including Bali-Bhuwana Rupa and Bali-Global Art Maps (B-GAME), organised as part of the Bali-Global Axis of Arts and Design (B-GAAD).
According to Komang Sudirga, these collaborations demonstrate that art and culture can serve as bridges between communities while fostering mutual understanding. Through BURU–JIWA–BUMI, this relationship is further strengthened by creating a shared space for artistic encounters and cross-cultural exchanges of ideas.
Curator Warih Wisatsana explained that BURU–JIWA–BUMI originates from the conception of artistic creation as a journey of searching and self-discovery. Buru represents the courage to explore new possibilities; Jiwa embodies the experiences that shape one’s character and artistic language; while Bumi signifies both the source and the living environment in which experiences take root.
This conceptual framework also intersects with the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi, which recognises beauty in imperfection, irregularity, and impermanence. From this perspective, artworks are regarded not merely as visual objects but also as spaces for contemplation on life and the relationship between human beings and nature.
Photo caption: The BURU–JIWA–BUMI art exhibition, entitled Bali–Seoul on Dialogue, at Nata-Citta Arts Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali, Friday, 16 October 2026.
Each artist presents a distinctive artistic approach. Hyonsun Kim explores clay through expressive ceramic forms. Young Choi works with light, shadow, and spatial relationships in photography to offer new perspectives on ceramic objects. Meanwhile, I Ketut Muka Pendet explores the spiritual and cultural significance of the kumba, a vessel used to hold sacred water in Balinese tradition, through his earthenware works.
Wayan Kun Adnyana, in turn, explores abstraction through layers of colour, brushstrokes, and textures that embody traces of experience and the passage of time. His works demonstrate the development of a visual language that goes beyond depicting reality, instead reinterpreting experience through artistic freedom.
Through the convergence of these four artistic approaches, BURU–JIWA–BUMI does not seek to homogenise differences. Rather, it creates a space in which diverse perspectives can coexist and enrich interpretations of nature, tradition, and life. The exhibition also serves as a platform for the exchange of artistic ideas between Bali and Seoul, using the language of art to transcend the boundaries of artistic media and cultural backgrounds.
Photo caption: Rector of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI Bali), Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, receives the 2026 Global Arts Award from the Korea–Indonesia Center (KIC) at the courtyard of Nata-Citta Art Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali, on Friday, 16 October 2026.
The Rector of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI Bali), Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, has received the 2026 Global Arts Award from the Korea–Indonesia Center (KIC). The award was presented by KIC Director, Prof. Dr. Koh Young Hun, at the courtyard of Nata-Citta Art Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali, on Friday, 16 October 2026.
The award was also conferred upon Anak Agung Gde Rai, founder of the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud, and Prof. Dr. Young Choi, a Korean academic and photographer. The awards ceremony took place during the opening of the international exhibition Bali-Bhuwana Rupa #2, entitled Buru-Jiwa-Bumi, as part of the sixth Bali Padma Bhuwana Festival.
The exhibition features works by four artists: Prof. Kun Adnyana, who presents his painting Blue Period; Prof. Young Choi, who exhibits still-life photography; Prof. Ketut Muka Pendet, who showcases ceramic and earthenware works; and South Korean artist Hyonsun Kim, who contributes ceramic artworks.
The Global Arts Award is dedicated to prominent figures in the arts and culture who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing artistic and cultural development while contributing to the strengthening of relations between Indonesia and South Korea. The three recipients—Prof. Young Choi, Anak Agung Gde Rai, and Prof. Kun Adnyana—were recognised for their outstanding expertise and proven contributions to the advancement of the arts, as well as their active efforts to foster creative collaboration and strengthen cultural synergies between Indonesia and South Korea.
Photo: ISI BALI Delegation at the Reception Celebrating the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, held from 6–9 October 2026 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (ISI BALI) strengthened Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy in Southeast Asia through its participation in a series of events commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, held from 6 to 9 October 2026 in Hanoi, Vietnam. ISI BALI’s participation followed an invitation from the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Adam Mulawarman Tugio, as part of broader efforts to promote Indonesia’s rich artistic and cultural heritage on the international stage.
The ISI BALI delegation was led by Rector Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, accompanied by Vice Rector Dr. I Made Jodog and three students, namely Gede Dipta, Mitha Apsari, and Diah Nanta. In addition to attending the diplomatic reception, the delegation used the visit as an opportunity to expand institutional networks through discussions on potential cooperation with the Vietnam Academy of Dance (VAD) and the delivery of a Balinese dance workshop.
The meeting with VAD represented a strategic step towards establishing collaborative opportunities in education, the development of dance competencies, and cultural knowledge exchange between Indonesia and Vietnam. Through the Balinese dance workshop, ISI BALI also introduced the richness of Balinese dance traditions while providing participants with direct, experiential learning in the performing arts.
Photo: ISI BALI Delegation with Students of the Vietnam Academy of Dance (VAD), 6–9 October 2026, Hanoi, Vietnam.
VAD Director Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Nga welcomed the proposed collaboration. The partnership was considered an opportunity to enrich the learning experiences of VAD students, particularly by enhancing their proficiency in Indonesian dance, especially Balinese dance. The exchange of artistic knowledge and practices is expected to broaden students’ understanding of the distinctive characteristics, techniques, and cultural values embedded in Indonesian dance traditions.
On this occasion, ISI BALI Rector Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana also formally invited the Director and delegation of VAD to participate in the Bali-Global Axis of Arts and Design (B-GAAD), hosted by ISI BALI. The forum serves as a platform for partnership, dialogue, and cross-institutional collaboration among arts and design higher education institutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
