Kamasan Village

Home of Balinese traditional Painting

Kamasan Village is a traditional painting community in the East Bali town of Klungkung. It is known as the birthplace of one of Bali's most well-known painting styles, and the painters' artistic abilities have been passed down down the years. Many different art galleries and family-run workshops may be found throughout the hamlet.

The Kamasan style, which features visual tales in the shape of wayang (shadow puppet) figures inspired by episodes from favorite Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, is common throughout the region, though artworks differ considerably. The ceiling artworks of the Kerta Gosa 'hall of justice' are among the outstanding specimens of the painting style.

Kamasan is a Balinese painter's community.

While Kamasan Village is a small village of painters, it has a significant historical and cultural value in the kingdom of Klungkung. The royal courts used to commission Kamasan painters back in the day. Much of the precise lines and shadings in natural dyes of red and ochre applied to cloth, bark, and, more recently, canvas have endured to this day. The fact that Kamasan paintings in public installations are created jointly means that the works are often anonymous. Because they all have religious significance, the construction of these works follows stringent regulations, such as when to begin a project, what to include, and how to depict specific occurrences. Nowadays, you can see more contemporary art being created in a variety of studios throughout the village, and you can even take up a brush and learn some strokes for yourself.