Photo: The Rector and the leadership team of ISI Bali visiting the “Tuai Tabur” exhibition, Monday (26 January), at N-CAS ISI Bali.
Students of the Fine Arts Study Program, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD), Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI Bali), presented their final project works for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year in the art exhibition entitled “Tuai Tabur.” The exhibition was held from 26 to 30 January 2026 at Nata Citta Art Space (N-CAS), ISI Bali. Featuring a wide range of artworks across diverse media and displayed in an exploratory manner, the exhibition offered an emotionally evocative experience through 37 distinct narratives.
The “Tuai Tabur” exhibition was officially opened by the Rector of ISI Bali, Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, S.Sn., M.Sn., on Monday (26 January). The opening ceremony was also attended by the Vice Rectors, the Dean and Vice Dean of FSRD ISI Bali, the Coordinator of the Fine Arts Study Program, and lecturers of the Fine Arts Study Program.
The title “Tuai Tabur,” coined by one of the exhibiting students, Ashlesha Barde, is interpreted as a “metaphor for a long journey,” in which she and her peers have “planted ideas, nurtured processes, and harvested results,” before subsequently “sowing new seeds” for future stages of artistic creation. This metaphor is clearly reflected in the exhibition, which features works by Fine Arts students from the 2022 cohort. “What we gain through the campus experience—cross-study program learning, followed by independent study or internships outside the institution, and culminating in the final project—does not represent an end, but rather a step forward,” stated Made Krisna Danendra, Chair of the “Tuai Tabur” Exhibition Committee.
Photo: Fine Arts students of ISI Bali presenting painting works in the “Tuai Tabur” exhibition, Monday (26 January), at N-CAS ISI Bali.
Janice Josephine Wartju, Secretary of the “Tuai Tabur” Exhibition Committee, explained that her cohort was strongly driven toward artistic exploration. Since the first semester sketching classes, lecturers encouraged students to use tools and materials beyond standard drawing paper and Chinese ink; even wood was introduced as a sketching medium. Moreover, their engagement with partner institutions during the ISI Bali Berdampak Program further motivated them to develop their artistic capacities. As one of the students from outside Bali, Janice initially felt hesitant, as Balinese culture is deeply rooted in artistic traditions. However, over time, she and other non-local students were able to adapt, contributing new perspectives, colors, and identities. “People may think Fine Arts is just painting or sculpture. It is not—Fine Arts is far more than that,” Janice emphasized.
Janice and Krisna exemplify distinct modes of expression and artistic approaches. Through cross-study program learning, Krisna discovered his expressive potential in woodcut printmaking techniques. He subsequently sought a compatible partner for his Independent Study under the ISI Bali Berdampak Program and collaborated with BHG, where he learned various manual printing methods. After nine months of experimentation, he aimed to narrate the speed and fragility of contemporary digital information through traditional printmaking techniques. “I want to address forms of memory, both printed and digitally shared, where today negative phenomena such as scams and doxing can easily occur,” Krisna explained.
Janice, who underwent drawing therapy during her childhood, became interested in further developing this practice at the university level. At ISI Bali, she felt she gained extensive insights into engaging with tradition. During the initial phase of her Independent Study under the ISI Bali Berdampak Program, she explored digital art practices in collaboration with artist Gangga Saputra, but encountered issues related to plagiarism. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. I Wayan Kun Adnyana, S.Sn., M.Sn., and Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Karja, MFA, she was advised to create larger-scale, manual, and more exploratory works. Consequently, Janice chose to highlight aspects of Chinese tradition with which she was more familiar. “I am actually more interested in tradition than in digital media. I want to inform audiences that tradition is not as negative as it is sometimes perceived, especially since Chinese culture contains many meaningful narratives,” Janice shared.
Janice and Krisna expressed their hope that, through collaboration with their colleague Made Chandra Putra Adnya, who served as the exhibition display director, their final project works could be presented from alternative perspectives to a broader audience. They also advised junior students and future cohorts not to hesitate in exploring their artistic practices and to carefully evaluate criticism and feedback received from lecturers and partners. It is hoped that a strong sense of collegiality among students will continue to grow, fostering innovation and broader networking. “Do not become independent before undertaking independent study,” Krisna remarked.
Finally, both Janice and Krisna acknowledged that they learned extensively from their academic journey at ISI Bali and expressed their hope to continue learning in the future. The perspectives on art and culture they acquired were broad and enriching. The experiences shared by Janice and Krisna demonstrate the engaging and dynamic nature of studying in the Fine Arts Study Program at ISI Bali.
