WE ARE A NEW SCULPTURE PARK IN BALI
Made Sukanta Wahyu, a dedicated wood sculptor and painter at Tri Datu Sabda Alam in his modest studio at Sengkiding village of Klungkung regencies.
Visiting his studio and sculputure park, Sukanta was seen working on a wooden sculpture.
In the corner of his studio lies a container filled with pieces of burned unused wood. The smoke fills the room and swirls around the wooden statues creating a mystical atmosphere.
“My art works are surrealist, carved in line with the natural wishes that I can feel within the wood here,” said Sukanta.
Sukanta has always welcomed visitors, who come to look around his studio and gallery to view his 600 sculptures and paintings, but he carries on with his work undisturbed by their presence.
Starting his art career at the age of 15, Sukanta faithfully follows the concept of Tri Datu, which is based on the energy of the universe — of Brahma, Wisnu and Shiva.
He frequently uses wood from frangipani trees, locally known as jepun. The texture of the wood is rough but beautiful. “I used to find the old frangipani trees planted near a temple. When the tree was getting old we would cut the trunk of the tree for material for my sculptures,” he said, explaining his artistic process.
“Such wood has extraordinary spiritual power,” he added.
Sukanta said he would never start working on a piece of wood before he received a “spiritual sign” from it.
Most of Sukanta’s works are on display in his studio that also doubles as a gallery.Gallery: Most of Sukanta’s works are on display in his studio that also doubles as a sculpture park.
The sculpture park is a rustic compound of open buildings with dried grass roofs.
“I have to feel that the wood is ‘speaking’ to me,” said Sukanta. He creates the surrealist wooden sculptures, providing a finishing touch by heating and scrubbing the surface of the wood.
“I have never sold my works at other art galleries. I create my art for my own satisfaction — not for money”
Sukanta Wahyu.
