Whilst in Bali, I visited several homes as part of my research, and gained a great insight into how people from differing social classes live in this society. Here are some annotated photo-collages of what I saw. The first home belonged to a lower income family, but what surprised me was that their home complex included an impressive private family temple, despite the kitchen and bathroom being very basic by western standards. Here I learnt that the sense of seeking harmony that ultimately drives Balinese life, even applies to the design of the Home. A Balinese version of FENG SHUI ascribes different rooms and places in the Home complex to different people and functions. For example, I saw how the kitchen's place is situated to the South, the family temple North East, bedrooms for adults in the North and for younger people in the West. Ceremonies are held in the central part of the complex.
My second visit was to a home in the countryside whose extended family have land on which they grow rice for their own consumption and several cash crops such as marigolds (used in offerings) and soya beans, as well as a large flock of ducks that are reared for their eggs and meat. This certainly was a Home from Home for me, and the family made a comfortable living from their crops and animals and had created a beautiful residence in the verdant Balinese landscape.
The third visit was to the affluent home of a well-known Balinese artist, which included a richly ornate private family temple and western style home comforts like running water, drainage, electricity and a television.
The final home I visited was in the remote village of TENGANAN, where I met a local woman in her home to learn about the double ikat weaving process that is so rare and famous. She is one of the few practitioners in Asia who can still create the special woven fabric using this ancient method. She sells it for a lot of money by local standards, but I appreciated that the small sample I bought took her a month to weave and is a very time-consuming craft. Her home where she ran her business from was typical of the village which has remained relatively unchanged for 700 years.
I will reveal more of the fascinating context of this unique and mysterious fabric in a special lecture on my return, during which you will be able to handle the sample that I purchased for the Understanding Art Studio....if you dare!
