Mangku Muriati

Mangku Muriati is an Indonesian artist based in Bali. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the arts, she is the daughter of the renowned Kamasan painter Mangku Mura. Following in her father's footsteps, she became both an artist and a priest (pemangku) in her local temple. Her work extends the Kamasan painting style by the introduction of contemporary narratives. She explores the reinterpretation of traditional knowledge from religious texts and reimagines stories to make them relevant to contemporary issues. Muriati not only keeps the Kamasan painting tradition alive but also imparts her knowledge to the next generation of Balinese artists.

Unseen Image Practise:

5 Mark Question:
Outline the ways in which the artist’s practice combines the old with the new (or traditional and contemporary).

8 Mark Question:
Explore how the artist communicates ideas about her time and place.

Below is further information about the artwork written by the exhibition’s curator. This can be read and discussed as a class once the students have answered the Unseen Image activity.

Muriati captures the vibrant tapestry of communal engagement in upholding cherished traditions while prioritising safety. Conceived during the volatile period of the 2019 pandemic, a time marked by individuals succumbed to COVID-19 with their bodies unseen and untouched as a final farewell, the painting encapsulates the collective experience of fear, anxiety, and tension during the pandemic, coupled with the artist's curiosity about the existence and duration of this global crisis. It reflects on the pandemic's impact on Balinese death rituals, exploring the delicate balance between life, death, tradition, and the necessity for adaptation in the face of an ever-evolving landscape.