Balinese Illustration Works by Visual Communication Design Students of ISI Bali, Documentation: Nuriarta, 2026
The exhibition theme “Karta Mandala” is interpreted as a balance between traditional and modern concepts in the creation of illustrative works by students of the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Program, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD), Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI Bali). The exhibition was held over three days, from 16 to 18 January 2026, and comprised an opening ceremony, a talk show, and a closing session. The events took place at the Kriya Building of Taman Budaya (Art Centre), Nusa Indah Street, located to the south of the ISI Bali campus.
The opening of the “Karta Mandala” Exhibition was officiated by the Coordinator of the Visual Communication Design Study Program, Gede Bayu Segara Putra, S.Ds., M.Sn. In his capacity as Program Coordinator, Bayu Segara expressed strong appreciation for students’ initiatives in actively organizing illustration exhibitions. The opening ceremony, held in the front courtyard of the Kriya Building, was also attended by the Head of the Section for Arts Presentation and Development, I Gede Arum Gunawan, S.Ag., M.Ag., representing the Head of the UPT Taman Budaya, as well as the lecturer of the Balinese Illustration course, Visual Communication Design faculty members, exhibition participants, and members of the public. The event was attended by more than 70 participants from diverse backgrounds, including students and the general community.
Group photo with Visual Communication Design students, VCD lecturers, the VCD Program Coordinator, and a representative of Taman Budaya (left); appreciation of student works in the exhibition space (right).Documentation: DKV-B, 2026.
The exhibition involved 37 Visual Communication Design students enrolled in the Balinese Illustration course, presenting works in the styles of Wayang Kamasan, Wayang Ubud, as well as illustrations depicting the traditional daily life of Balinese society. A total of 63 illustration works and 39 illustrated stories were exhibited. In addition, the exhibition featured digital works in the form of Public Service Advertisements (PSAs) created using digital techniques. These PSA works continued to incorporate wayang figures as central visual elements.
The exhibition functioned as a bridge for harmonizing tradition and innovation. The displayed works demonstrate that VCD students of ISI Bali are able to maintain the continuity of traditional values while remaining open to change and intercultural dialogue. Balinese traditional illustrations serve as evidence that tradition is not static, but rather a living entity that continues to evolve over time. The inclusion of themes drawn from everyday life is particularly significant, as it reveals that traditional aesthetics are not confined to sacred spaces or epic narratives, but are also embedded within daily activities. Illustrations of everyday life often adopt Balinese traditional visual principles, such as narrative composition, symbolic representation, and the depiction of space as flat yet richly detailed. Through these works, art audiences are invited to perceive Bali not merely as a tourist destination, but as a living space imbued with spiritual values, communal bonds, and an awareness of ecological balance.
Talk Show
Visual Talk flyer for the “Karta Mandala” Exhibition.Documentation: DKV-B, 2026.
On Saturday, 17 January 2026, a work discussion session was held in the exhibition space. Two invited speakers, Cokorda Alit Artawan, S.Sn., M.Sn., and Dr. I Wayan Nuriarta, S.Pd., M.Sn., were present to deliver overviews of Balinese illustration. Cokorda Alit Artawan provided a concise account of the emergence of Balinese illustration, while I Wayan Nuriarta discussed illustration from a cultural studies perspective. The talk show was attended by Visual Communication Design students as well as members of the general public. The discussion was lively, focusing on illustrations as visual texts and the narrative dimensions of the works.
On this occasion, students of DKV-B also actively discussed their selected works. They explained their creative processes, ranging from idea development and initial sketching to the finalization of the artworks. Visitors showed strong enthusiasm in engaging with the entire series of events.
Exhibition Closing
Closing of the “Karta Mandala” Exhibition.Documentation: DKV-B, 2026.
The exhibition closing was marked by an entertainment program featuring performances by Visual Communication Design students. According to the chair of the organizing committee, I Putu Gading Bagus Maesha, the entire series of activities was carried out smoothly and successfully. He expressed the hope that this exhibition of Balinese traditional illustration would hold meaningful value for its visitors. It is expected that the exhibition not only enriches knowledge of Balinese traditional visual arts, but also fosters a shared sense of respect and responsibility in preserving the sustainability of this noble cultural heritage. (Cok Alit Artawan & Nuriarta)
The series of events enlivening the Vidya–Vastu–Virya Exhibition concluded on the third day with Art Talks and artistic performances presented by the Student Associations of the Craft, Interior Design, Visual Communication Design (VCD), and Photography Study Programs. Each association shared engaging experiences from their respective academic journeys and presented diverse musical performances, despite being accompanied by rainfall.
The Student Association of the Craft Study Program featured two speakers, Suryawan and Naomi, both students participating in the Final Project Dissemination Exhibition of the ISI Bali Berdampak Program for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. Each speaker conveyed distinct experiences gained through collaboration with their chosen industry partners, including learning about upcycling practices and natural dyes. These experiences provided valuable insights into material processing as well as an understanding of market dynamics within the craft industry. The accompanying performance was marked by high enthusiasm, even though it required relocation and shelter due to the rain. The Craft Student Association presented a distinctive ngelawang performance; instead of traditional gamelan accompaniment, they utilized bamboo kulkul instruments they had crafted themselves. This unique and spirited performance involved more than 30 students from the Craft Study Program.
The Student Association of Interior Design presented a single speaker, Komang, who was also undertaking a Final Project. One of the most memorable experiences for him was engaging in off-studio activities, particularly conducting on-site project inspections with industry partners—experiences not typically encountered in conventional coursework. Consequently, the opportunities provided through the ISI Bali Berdampak Program were considered highly significant for the development of his professional skills and competencies as an interior designer. He emphasized the importance of mastering both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design skills, as these competencies are essential and fully applied during participation in the program. Familiarity with these tools, he noted, enables students to execute client assignments more effectively. The Interior Design Student Association concluded its segment with a pop band performance featuring songs by renowned Indonesian bands such as Sheila On 7 and Dewa 19, encouraging audience participation through collective singing.
The Student Association of Visual Communication Design featured two Final Project students and one third-semester student as speakers. One of the speakers, Candra, participated in the ISI Bali Berdampak Program in Poland, contributing to the development of the newly established Taman Bali Indah. His involvement included participation in art performances, art workshops, and branding activities. He highlighted the need for significant adaptation, particularly in terms of culture, language, and climate. The experience underscored the importance of copywriting skills, given the differing professional standards compared to those in Indonesia.
Another speaker, Dayu, undertook the ISI Bali Berdampak Program at Kenak Medika Hospital in Gianyar. Her experience was characterized by a range of unexpected and insightful activities, particularly in understanding hospital operations and management. In addition to developing branding materials, one unanticipated experience involved photographing newborn babies. “It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, because it was something entirely new,” Dayu explained.
The third-semester student, Dita, shared that her decision to pursue Visual Communication Design was influenced by her parents, who recognized the potential of the discipline. Her early exposure to foundational courses such as Nirmana and Basic Visual Communication Design marked the beginning of her academic journey. Participating in exhibitions became a particularly memorable experience, especially collaborative exhibitions with the Master’s Program in Arts Management, through which she learned exhibition planning and execution. The artistic performance presented by the Visual Communication Design Student Association featured a music band performing classic international pop-rock songs.
The Student Association of Photography presented three students—Dika, Tria, and Bagus—who participated in the ISI Bali Berdampak Program, alongside a DJ performance that accompanied the audience into the evening. Each student undertook the program in different settings with distinct areas of focus, including storytelling, hospitality, and fashion modeling. While the program may not have significantly enhanced their technical skills in capturing photographs, it provided deeper learning in time management, studio lighting techniques, and marketing strategies. An unforgettable aspect of the experience involved developing independent concepts to produce high-quality photographic works, as well as confronting and learning from mistakes. “Never be excessively afraid—fear is acceptable, but always communicate with your supervisors and avoid making assumptions on your own,” Tria advised.
Photo: The second day of the Final Project Dissemination activities of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at Bencingah Nata-Cita Arts Space, ISI Bali, Wednesday (14 January).
As part of the second day of Vidya–Vastu–Virya, the Visual Exhibition continued alongside a series of activities organized by various Student Associations of Study Programs (HMP) within the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD), ISI Bali. The second day, Wednesday (14 January), was enlivened by the participation of the Student Associations of Fine Arts, Animation, Film and Television Production, and Fashion Design.
Among the highlights were a number of inspiring narratives shared by students. Representatives from the Student Associations of Fashion Design and Film and Television Production delivered Art Talks reflecting on their experiences, including discussions on creative processes, idea exploration, as well as the values of discipline and consistency cultivated through their respective fields of study.
The program also featured vocal and dance performances presented by several Fashion Design students. Anggun Kristipa, one of the participating students, shared that the event was particularly memorable. The combination of Anggun’s singing with the dances performed by her peers, Indah and Anggita, created a vibrant and emotionally engaging atmosphere. “Each performance complemented and reinforced the narrative that the world of fashion is closely intertwined with artistic expression, emotion, and the beauty of movement,” Anggun explained.
The Student Association of Fine Arts presented a live painting performance, accompanied by Art Talks featuring Final Project students as speakers. Made Chandra shared his work, which was based on his study of Wayang Kamasan painting, while Made Nova Moyo addressed pressing environmental issues that increasingly threaten global ecosystems, symbolized through the use of various materials and the bird of paradise (Cendrawasih). “In my experience, the campus becomes a negotiated laboratory—a place to question, to explore, and where prospective artists build networks by engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds, including alumni of SMSR,” Chandra noted.
Both speakers emphasized that opportunities offered through the ISI Bali Berdampak Internship and Independent Study programs are rare and invaluable, particularly for Moyo, who is determined to finance his own education. Internship placements were described as bridges to professional life beyond campus, while also fostering personal growth among students. “One word: ngelindeng—for art students, without ngelindeng there is no freedom, only stagnation. Build friendships and networks; it will work out,” Moyo advised.
From the Student Association of Animation, the program featured an acoustic music performance, as well as an Art Talk involving third-semester student Caleb Nikao Hutabarat and first-semester student Putu Bagus Mas. They discussed the growing interest in the Animation Study Program, driven by the expanding animation film industry in Indonesia. Early exposure to animated series such as Boboiboy and Upin & Ipin inspired their curiosity about animation production. “I thought, why not become one of the people behind the scenes who can translate imagination into cartoons or animation,” Bagus Mas shared.
Despite challenges related to time management and maintaining continuous communication throughout animation production processes—from pre-production to post-production—Caleb and Bagus Mas expressed confidence that the tasks and skills they are developing will prove valuable in the future. “My message is to keep improving yourself, don’t be overly affected by mood swings, continue creating, and strive to become someone who makes a positive impact in the future,” Caleb concluded.
Photo: The Rector of ISI Bali, Prof. Dr. I Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, reviews the Final Project Dissemination Exhibition of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at the Nata-Cita Arts Space, ISI Bali, Tuesday (13 January).
Unnoticed, six months have passed, during which 392 students of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD), Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Bali, have fulfilled their Final Project requirements through the dissemination outcomes of the ISI Bali Berdampak program. Notably, this year’s dissemination by FSRD ISI Bali also featured candidates from newly established undergraduate programs—Product Design (S1) and Animation (S1). “This marks the largest number of students undertaking Final Projects in the history of ISI Bali,” reported the Chair of the ISI Bali Berdampak Dissemination Committee and Vice Dean I of FSRD, I Made Pande Artadi.
It was explained that “Vidya–Vastu–Virya,” meaning “Integrated Reason, Embodied Power, Impactful Work,” served as the overarching theme for four forms of FSRD Final Project dissemination, presented through an Exhibition (13–15 January), Film Screening (18 January), Fashion Show (24–25 January), and Animation Screening (30 January). This theme is considered relevant to the transformation of a 60-year-old arts campus into ISI Bali, increasingly oriented toward Meraya Cita Samasta.
Etymologically, Vidya as integrated reason reflects intellectual depth; Vastu as embodied power signifies the creative process of materializing ideas; while Virya denotes a commitment to producing works with tangible social, environmental, and economic impacts. Fine Arts and Design scholarship thus functions as a reflective medium for expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. The theme is expected to stimulate the creation of works that are aesthetically refined, rich in meaning, intellectually provocative, and capable of opening spaces for cross-disciplinary dialogue. “The thematic concept is very well articulated and closely aligned with the first dissemination of the ISI Bali Berdampak curriculum,” appreciated the Dean of FSRD, I Nengah Sudika Negara.
The total number of Final Project participants reached 392 students, comprising 37 students of Fine Arts, 11 of Craft, 65 of Interior Design, 107 of Visual Communication Design, 28 of Photography, 71 of Fashion Design, 30 of Film and Television Production, 22 of Product Design, and 22 of Animation. The programs undertaken included five elective pathways: the Impactful Internship Program, Impactful Independent Project Study, Impactful Entrepreneurship, Impactful Teaching Assistance, and the Merdeka Internship Program organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
Furthermore, the curators of the “Vidya–Vastu–Virya” exhibition, I Nyoman Payuyasa and I Putu Arya Janottama, stated that the theme fundamentally seeks to embrace and weave together the diversity of works produced by FSRD students. Although the process unfolded over the past six months, the works presented were in fact conceived from the moment students first set foot at ISI Bali. Experiences and theoretical foundations were interlaced, resulting in works that represent the downstream outcomes of students’ experiences and the social, environmental, and economic impacts they generate. “In addition, there are emotional impacts embedded in the works, emerging from the mentorship between lecturers and partners, which are able to evoke particular nuances for the audience,” conveyed curator representative I Nyoman Payuyasa.
The exhibition was officially opened with remarks by the Rector, Prof. Dr. I Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, who expressed appreciation and gratitude for the strong cooperation and synergy across all levels that enabled the realization of this dissemination. He also acknowledged the partners of the ISI Bali Berdampak program who collaborated with FSRD, sharing invaluable insights and networks with the students. The Rector emphasized that the Final Project serves as evidence of students’ growing recognition, representing an achievement while upholding innovation as an endeavor toward a meaningful life. “For us, the Final Project is not an endpoint; rather, it is the first step toward building increasingly tangible and challenging arenas of competition and innovation,” he remarked.
The opening of the Final Project dissemination was further supported by students who had recently completed cross-faculty exchange learning programs in the Departments of Karawitan and Dance, presenting the outcomes of their coursework through Cak Dance and Bleganjur performances. These presentations affirmed that collaborative learning schemes can provide practical experience and new knowledge, contributing to the broader intellectual development of ISI Bali students.
Throughout the “Vidya–Vastu–Virya” exhibition, a series of Art Talks and performances organized by student associations within FSRD are scheduled. On this day, Product Design, Architecture, and Outstanding Students participated. Two Product Design students who joined the evening’s brief Art Talk shared their experiences in undertaking the ISI Bali Berdampak program with the audience. Both happened to collaborate with the same partner, Studio Banda—an industrial design studio based in Ubud that has worked with various international studios. They discussed the challenges and rewards of their Final Projects, particularly the extensive trial-and-error processes involving material experimentation. It is hoped that this activity will enrich the experiential insights of junior students who are still pursuing their studies and will later participate in the ISI Bali Berdampak program.Opening of “Vidya–Vastu–Virya”: Dissemination of ISI Bali Berdampak Final Projects for the Odd Semester of Academic Year 2025/2026
The exhibition presents the Final Project (Tugas Akhir/TA) works of the first cohort of students. This historic event was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, at the Nata Citta Art Space Building, ISI Bali Campus.
This moment marks a significant milestone for ISI Denpasar, signifying the emergence of the first generation of professional product designers produced directly by Bali’s oldest arts institution. The exhibition is not merely a celebration of graduation, but also a public demonstration of the quality and academic outcomes of the inaugural educational process of the Product Design Study Program.
The principal distinction of this inaugural cohort exhibition lies in its collaborative, practice-based approach. Unlike conventional academic exhibitions, the works on display are the result of intensive collaboration between students and a range of strategic partners. These partners include Small and Medium Industries (SMIs), local Balinese artisans, and manufacturing companies.
This synergy with industry and craft partners has resulted in dozens of market-ready product prototypes. Visitors are able to observe a wide spectrum of innovations, ranging from furniture utilizing industrial waste materials from partner industries, productivity-support tools for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to contemporary craft products that elevate traditional artisan techniques into modern design contexts.
One notable collaborative work that attracted considerable attention is “3120 Sling Trail,” developed in partnership with industry collaborators. This apparel-based product, in the form of a sling bag designed for touring activities, successfully integrates the students’ design vision with the production capabilities of the industry partner.
This inaugural final project dissemination exhibition is open to the public and will run until Thursday, 15 January 2026. Members of the general public, business practitioners, and design enthusiasts are invited to attend and witness firsthand the emergence of a new generation of Balinese product designers poised to compete on the global stage.
Photo: The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ISI Bali and the Seoul Institute of the Arts, Wednesday (14 January), at the Nata Widya Sabha Hall, ISI Bali.
The Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali (Institut Seni Indonesia Bali/ISI Bali) welcomed a delegation from the Seoul Institute of the Arts, South Korea, on Wednesday (14 January), at the Nata Widya Sabha Hall, ISI Bali. The visit marked an important milestone in strengthening international academic networks through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.
The delegation was led by the President of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, Prof. Chang Ji Hun, accompanied by the Dean of Planning, Koh Joo Won; the Dean of Academic Affairs, Kim Dokyun; the Dean of External Relations, Kim Ji Young; and a staff member of External Relations, Kim Sarang.
The delegation was formally received by the Rector of ISI Bali, Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, together with the Vice Rectors, the Director of the Graduate Program, the Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts, the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, and the Coordinator of International Affairs of ISI Bali.
Cooperation between ISI Bali and the Seoul Institute of the Arts has been established since 2017. This collaboration has been realized, among others, through the invitation of an ISI Bali faculty member, Dr. I Made Sidia, to deliver instruction on Balinese arts at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, including Balinese gamelan and traditional Balinese dance.
During this visit, the Seoul Institute of the Arts invited ISI Bali to collaborate in the CultureHub Korea program. This initiative is designed to expand the creative practices of students and faculty members while fostering an immersive and globally oriented learning environment.
CultureHub Korea focuses on three main components: Creative Production, Research and Development, and Education. Through collaboration with artists from various countries at the Art & Technology Center (ATEC) of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, the program promotes the exploration of advanced technologies to develop innovative new forms of artistic expression.
This collaboration is expected to open opportunities for interdisciplinary partnerships, knowledge exchange, and the sustainable development of culture-based arts and technology between ISI Bali and the Seoul Institute of the Arts. (ISIBALI/Public Relations)
