Putu´s Tigers at yama balian
At that time, 80% of the project was complete, and the decoration was defined, but we knew something was missing. We were playing it too safe, and it wasn’t my style. An empty wall loomed above the beds, and we felt the need for a punch to balance the room, to evoke tradition, Bali, and a touch of rawness that ultimately brings everything into equilibrium. I wanted to bring the temple concept into the rooms, making them feel more solemn and less mellow. Once again, by chance, south of Ubud, we entered a wooden joglo literally falling apart and found Putu.
Balinese art is known for its excessive detail and perfection, elaborate decoration, and paintings like the “Batuan” Balinese technique, which involves loading the entire canvas with various presences and activities, all meticulously detailed in fine lines that create a mosaic of perfection up close. But here, we were definitely facing something different—there was rawness and intuition, strokes and proportions a bit crazier than usual.
Standing in front of his workshop, a joglo literally falling apart, one could feel a different energy. Despite being in Bali for over 15 years, Putu is originally from Sulawesi. He came with his wife in search of work, started here and there, but soon, thanks to the empowerment of art in Balinese culture, Putu began to paint. Lacking money for canvases or wood, he started painting panels, doors, and windows of ancient joglos he found, gradually extending to those in the house they lived in, turning it into a museum—his own Sistine Chapel.
We collaborated with him on as many pieces as he could prepare for our opening, and, of course, it was inevitable to take a few more for our own home. I remember initially taking just one because we were afraid it might be too much for the energy in the rooms, but everything fell into place. We had the opportunity to invite Putu to come to Yama and see his tigers adorning our suite rooms. In this natural and beautiful way, we managed to bring the rawness and boldness of our tiger and temple into the interiors of our rooms.
