American Artist Opens Exhibition In Kuta Inspired By Bali’s Natural Wonders

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As Bali slowly returned to the rhythms of pre-pandemic life, art and cultural celebrations are returning to the island’s events calendar. In. The Park 23 Gallery & Creative Hub in Tuban is hosting American artist Yarri Rom and his exhibition titled ‘The Art of Mother Earth’. 

The exhibition is an invite for the global community to respect nature and all environments that support life. Speaking to local news reporters on the event’s opening night Rom said ‘”I am very inspired by nature and the lives of residents on this Island of the Gods’. He hopes that through his art people will be inspired to reflect on the collective bad habits of all people when it comes to environmental management and social responses to the climate crisis. 

Rom shared the vision to begin his work and the legacy he hopes it will play a part in inspiring ‘Nowadays it becomes more important for all generations to take part and have and be sensitive to social movements for the environment’.

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He explained how “The painting is displayed as a form of movement to celebrate our awareness that all creatures on earth can together create a journey, responsibility to the earth through visual inspiration’.

The Art Of Mother Earth exhibition incorporates dozens and paintings on a range of canvas sizes. Rom has been a long-term resident of Bali and feels deeply integrated into local life. His first studio in Bali can be found in Penestanan Village just outside of Ubud Central. Rom arrived in Bali in 2003 and was introduced to the natural wonders and cultural beauty of Bali by his mother and her friends who had been living in Bali for some time already. 

During the press tour of the exhibition, Rom pointed out his favorite piece and shared the story behind the work. The painting is inspired by water and incorporates a stunning range of blue hues. He says that the painting is a representation of his commitment to protecting vital water sources for all people. Rom highlighted how ocean plastic and waste accumulation on Bali beaches is a big problem.

Rom’s life is not only dedicated to his paintings but to social impact through performing arts. He works with teams of other artists to develop performance art and expresses his love of the natural world through stories, music, and dance. 

A large proportion of Rom’s energy also goes into running art projects for children. Rom and his Balinese art partner Ni Made Toya, have opened a second studio space in Seminyak that is open for local children and other artists to enjoy.

The Art Of Mother Nature exhibition is open from the 6th to 24th July 2022, from midday to 8 pm. No booking is necessary and Rom and his team will be running talks and workshops throughout the month. 

Other celebrations of Bali’s rich arts culture continue in the coming days. The Bali Arts Festival has been running from the 12th of June with a packed schedule of theatre performances, parades, poetry readings, and exhibitions.

The festival returned to Bali after a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The festival will run until the 10th of July and so far has been a resounding success. In pre-pandemic years the Bali Arts Festival was responsible for the arrival of over one million tourists to the island, who traveled from all over the globe to experience one of the world’s leading cultural celebrations. 

Bali is an island of artists. There are murals on the side of buildings in popular tourist destinations across the island that showcase the talent of both local and international artists.

Communities in Kuta however have offered an IDR 3 million reward for anyone who can identify a serial graffiti ‘artist’ who has been vandalizing walls in Semat Sari Market in North Kuta  this week with unsightly spray paint. CCTV images of foreign criminal have been circulating on local social media news sites.