I Ketut Madra, 2013

I Ketut Madra is a traditional Balinese painter from Banjar Kalah, Peliatan, Ubud. He lives in the same village with f and m . Besides a painter he also a mask dancer and a gamelan musician. In playing gamelan, f and I Ketut Madra actively join the gamelan group Dewi Sri, Tirta Sari, and Sekaa Gong Gurnita Sari Banjar Kalah.

Before, f and m got a chance given by I Ketut Madra to join him to ngayah painted Umbul-umbul dedicated to Pura Dalem Gede temple of Peliatan. Although f and m were not painter, they enjoyed that activity and it becoming their wonderful experience!

Umbul-Umbul (Balinese Hinduism Flag)
Umbul Umbul Dragon 2009-2013

This year, with a help from his old friend, I Ketut Madra held a painting exhibition at Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud. The exhibition was “Ketut Madra and Balinese Wayang 100 Years of Painting” from October 7th to November 7th, 2013.


I Ketut Madra on his exhibition in 2013
“Ketut Madra and 100 Years of Balinese Wayang Painting”

We visited the exhibition, and we were glad to see him at the museum. We saw some of his oldest paintings from 1970’s. Like our experiences with I Ketut Madra, he loved to tell stories, some about religion and the story of Mahabharata or Ramayana. So he did on the exhibition, here he told us stories about his paintings. Thank you Mr. Ketut Madra!


Painting of “Sita Satya” (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire) on his exhibition in 2013
“Ketut Madra and 100 Years of Balinese Wayang Painting””

There on the wall we saw a large size painting. Wow, it was a painting “Sita Satya”. We had special memories with this painting because we saw him painted this from the beginning till the end of the process.


Painting of “Sita Satya” (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire) – I Ketut Madra at work, July 2010


Painting of “Sita Satya” (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire), 2011


Painting of “Sita Satya” (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire) – I Ketut Madra at work, 2012


Painting of “Sita Satya” (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire) at Atelier, 29 November 2012
From left: Ni Wayan Kondri (Ketut’s wife), m and I Ketut Madra

The painting “Sita Satya” completed in November 2012, after more than two years of making since July 2010. “Sita Satya” was the largest painting he had ever made. How amazing work!

Congratulations and success to Mr. I Ketut Madra of his painting exhibition at the Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud Bali, in 2013 !

I Ketut Madra on Film

I Ketut Madra

I Ketut Madra

I Ketut Madra

I Ketut Madra, a traditional Balinese painter. He began to paint in this tradition style since 1950’s. His works had been a collection of the Presidential Palace (1976). Not only in Indonesia he also exhibited his paintings at Harvard University USA in 1973, and Japan in 1991, and 1999. Of his amazing works and dedication to traditional painting style, he had been awarded plaques by The Governor of Bali – Ida Bagus Mantra in 1987 and 1989, as well as several awards from private organizations both local and international.