Art from Bali and Indonesia
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PITA MAHA
(great spirit)


PITA MAHA, founded in 1934, was an association for artists on Bali. This assocation originated at the insistence of Rudolf Bonnet (1895-1978), a dutch painter. The aim of the association was two-fold:

1. To improve and maintain the quality of Balinese art objects by weekly inspections.

2. To promote the selling of high-quality art by organising sales exhibitions outside Bali.

In the committee who on a weekly basis inspected the artwork (mainly carvings and drawings) were Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies, and I Goesti Njoman Lempad. The mastercarver Ida Bagus Poetoe Taman was chairman of the association. In 1942 the association was abolished because of Worldwar II.
  The PITA MAHA association organised during her existance 10 exhibitions:

1934Batavia21 Apr 1934 -19 May 1934
1936Jogjakarta26 May 1936 -04 Jun 1936
1936Batavia10 Sep 1936 -20 Sep 1936
1936Bandoeng22 Nov 1936 -28 Nov 1936
1937Batavia02 Dec 1937 -12 Dec 1937
1938Bandoeng20 Nov 1938 -27 Nov 1938
1939Batavia03 Feb 1939 -12 Feb 1939
1940Batavia29 Oct 1940 -20 Nov 1940
1941Bandoeng11 Oct 1941 -19 Oct 1941
1954Medan28 May 1954 -31 May 1954
     
The next artists were members of PITA MAHA:

NamePhotoFull nameInfo about the artistBorn - DiedDomicileImportantPita_MahaArtwork
AYUNClick for more info about this artistI Wayan Ayun(Ajun)Woodcarver who specialised in animal-carvings. When the Dutch secretary of the famous Pita Maha group, M v Wessum, retired she was given a farewell present. This present was a beautiful carving of 2 horses done by I Wayan Ayun.(.... - ....)PelitianClick for more info about this artist
BAWAClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus BawaHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 5 carvings.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
BIMAClick for more info about this artistA A Gede Oka BimaTwo statues from him were displayed during a sales-exhibition in Batavia in 1937. the exhibition was organized by the Pita Maha group.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
BOENClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Njoman BoenHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented there with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
COKOTClick for more info about this artistI Nyoman CokotExtraordinary and innovative woodcarver who lived and worked his whole life in the isolated mountain village DJATI, close to SEBATOE. . His carvings were mostly variations of demons. With Ida Bagus Njana he is one of the most famous woodcarvers on Bali. Rudolf Bonnet acquired many of his carvings which he donated to the Volkenkundig museum in Leiden(Netherlands)(1886 - 1971)DjatiClick for more info about this artist
DOYOTANClick for more info about this artistI DoyotanImportant carver in the thirties.Famous carver for art deco birdcarvings. He introduced sitting-person-carvings. An example can be seen in the Puri Lukisan Museum in Ubud.(1884 - 1994)MasClick for more info about this artist
GELEBUSClick for more info about this artistDewa Putu GelebusHis name appears in a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha group in 1936 in Bandoeng. He was represented there with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
GELGELClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus GelgelHis name appears in several exhibition catalogues of the Pita Maha group. One may conclude therefore that his work was of outstanding quality.(.... - ....)SanurClick for more info about this artist
GELODOGClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Ktut GelodogImportant and talented woodcarver. Active between 1930-1950. His father was the well known Ida Bagus Ngoerah. According to Rudolf Bonnet; 'Ida Bagus Ngoerah was a respected artist and scholar in Bali. His sons were highly skilled artists, carvers and painters, and kept the family tradition at a high level. The new carving-style of Ida Bagus Ketoet was therefore well received under the Balinese'. The photo to the left is from the book ' Hundert Tage auf Bali' ,written by Walter Dreessen, where Gelodog performs a dance.(1912 - 1978)MasClick for more info about this artist
GELODOG1Click for more info about this artistIda Bagus Ketut Gelodog1This second listing shows the older Gelodog with a complete new style of carving; more elonguated and stylish.(1912 - 1978)MasClick for more info about this artist
GEREDAGClick for more info about this artistI B Oka GeredagHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Bandoeng in 1938. He was represented with 1 carving.(.... - ....) Click for more info about this artist
GEREMBOEANGClick for more info about this artistMade GeremboeangAccording to Bonnet he is the most creative carver of a new group of carvers that tried new styles during the thirties in Batuan. He started as a maker of Topeng-masks and temple-statues. But later he developed his carving sklills and excelled in ordinary life subjects like mother and child, sitting old man, musician. Geremboeang-statues are very rare and costly. During a recent art auction in Singapore (May 2010)a Geremboeang-sculpture fetched 25.000 euro(1912 - 1985)MasClick for more info about this artist
GEREMBOEANG1Click for more info about this artistMade GeremboeangIn this second entry two other authentic carvings from Geremboeang. These two were once in the collection of Rudolf Bonnet. Geremboeang never signed his statues.(.... - ....) Click for more info about this artist
GERENDENGClick for more info about this artistI GerendengHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
GEROEDOEGClick for more info about this artistI GeroedoegHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 5 carvings.(.... - ....)TebasajaClick for more info about this artist
GERUNUNGClick for more info about this artistI GerunungHis name appears in the catalogue of a Pita Maha exhibition in Batavia in 1937. He was represented there with 2 carvings.(.... - ....) Click for more info about this artist
GREDAGClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Oka Gredag (.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
JEDEGClick for more info about this artistI Nyoman JedegActive during the Pita Maha-period(1934-1942). Took part in the second woodcarving exhibition "The Legacy2" in the Puri Lukisam Museum Ubud, Bali, in 2003.(.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
KINTOENClick for more info about this artistDewa Kompiang Kintoen (.... - ....)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
KISIDClick for more info about this artistI KisidHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Batavia, September 1936. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
KONAKClick for more info about this artistI KonakHis name appears in a catalogue of a Pita Maha exhibition in Bandoeng, November 1936. He was represaented there with one carving.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
LEMPADClick for more info about this artistI Gusti Nyoman LempadOneof the most reknown artists of Bali. Worked in his younger years as an architect and stone sculptor. Later he specialized in art, in particular very detailed pen drawings. His woodcarvings were lesser known.See the photo of one of his carvings; a funeral tower. He was one of the founders of the Pita Maha. He died at the age of 116.(1862 - 1978)BeduluClick for more info about this artist
LETJANGClick for more info about this artistI LetjangThis name appears in a catalogue of a Bali art exhibition in Medan 1954. He was represented there with 2 carvings(.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
MANDAClick for more info about this artistKtut Manda (.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
MODOLClick for more info about this artistI ModolHis name appears in a catalogue of a Pita Maha exhibition in Bandoeng, November 1938. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
NGOERAHClick for more info about this artistDewa Gede NgoerahHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Djokjakarta, 1936. He was represented there with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
NGOERAHClick for more info about this artistAnak Agoeng Gede NgoerahParticipant of the second Pita Maha exhibition in Batavia 1937.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
NJANAClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus NjanaProbably the most known woodcarver on Bali. Produced in his younger years traditional carvings of high quality. Later he changed to fat images of women where there was no longer attention for detail but for the perfect line. He always worked with the structure of the wood. The TROPENMUSEUM in Amsterdam has a large collection of pre-war carvings of him.(1912 - 1985)MasClick for more info about this artist
NJANA1Click for more info about this artistIda Bagus NjanaAt this second listing a photo of his greatest master piece and his authentic signature.(1912 - 1985)MasClick for more info about this artist
OKAClick for more info about this artistDewa Gede OkaHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 3 carvings.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
PATEREClick for more info about this artistI PatereTalented and accomplished carver and painter. Only in his later years he started to make woodcarvings. He lived and worked in Batuan, at that time the centre of artists in Bali. Because he died young his sculptures and drawings are extremely rare. (1900 - 1935)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
POEGEHClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus PoegehHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Bandoeng 1936. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)SanurClick for more info about this artist
POELOSARIClick for more info about this artistDewa Gede PoelosariHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Djokjakarta 1936. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)BangliClick for more info about this artist
POENDOETClick for more info about this artistI PoendoetHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)TebasajaClick for more info about this artist
POETOEClick for more info about this artistAnak Agoeng PoetoeThis name appears in a exhibition catalogue of a Pita Maha sales-exhibition in Batavia , september 1936. He was represented there with 4 carvings.(.... - ....)SanurClick for more info about this artist
RAKAClick for more info about this artistDewa GD RakaHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 4 carvings. (.... - ....)PeliatanClick for more info about this artist
RAKA KARSAClick for more info about this artistIde Bagus Raka KarsaActive during the Pita Maha years(1934-1942). No more info.(.... - ....) Click for more info about this artist
RANGKOESClick for more info about this artistI RangkoesWell known carver of animal-statues. He was one of the best among other animal-carvers like I Silur and I Tame. Lived and worked in Njuh Kuning, near Ubud. His carvings are displayed in the museum Puri Lukisan, Bali. See the photo.(1922 - ....)NjuhkuningClick for more info about this artist
RANGKOES1Click for more info about this artistI RangkoesHere a second example of his genius. Not sure if it was he who carved the signature.(1922 - ....)Njuh KuningClick for more info about this artist
REGEGClick for more info about this artistI RegegHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 3 carvings.(.... - ....)BadoengClick for more info about this artist
RENTEGClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Kompiang RentegHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Bandoeng1936. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)BatuanClick for more info about this artist
RODJAClick for more info about this artistI Ktut RodjaBrother in law of I Geremboeang. Very talented artist who as one of the first Balinese artists made beautiful Art Deco statues. Started his own gallery in the fifties in Mas which is still there Bonnet mentioned his "intricate female statues", which is certainly true when you look at the photo on the right. In almost all the Pita Maha-brochures his name(and Geremboeang) was at the top of the list and his work demanded the highest prices. One has to assume then that he(and Geremboeang) were the leading carvers at that time. He got politically engaged which resulted in his early death in 1965.(1917 - 1965)MasClick for more info about this artist
RODJA1Click for more info about this artistI Ktut RodjaThis second entry shows an early masterpiece by Ktut Rodja depicting the Hindu god Shiwa. And a photo of his original signature.(1917 - 1965)MasClick for more info about this artist
SANDEHClick for more info about this artistI SandehParticipent at the first Pita Maha Sales-Exhibition in Batavia 1936.(.... - ....)TebesajaClick for more info about this artist
SANGGINGClick for more info about this artistAnak Agoeng KetutHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in Djogjakarta 1936. He was represented there with one carving.(.... - ....)BangliClick for more info about this artist
SEDENGClick for more info about this artistI Njoman SedengHis name appears in the catalogue of the first Pita Maha exhibition in Djogjakarta in 1936. He was represented with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)MasClick for more info about this artist
SILURClick for more info about this artistI SilurExpert in animal carvings. His portrait was painted by Rudolf Bonnet in 1956. His carvings were distributed and sold through the Pita Maha group. (1912 - ....)Njuh KuningClick for more info about this artist
SOTONGClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Ktut Sotong (.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist
TAMAClick for more info about this artistI Mangku TamaSpecialist of animal-carvings. Active during the Pita Maha period (1934-1942)(.... - ....)NjuhkuningClick for more info about this artist
TAMANClick for more info about this artistIda Bagus Poetoe TamanBrother of I Patere. Became member and chaiman of the Pita Maha selection committee which determined the quality of the carvings and drawings. Like his brother a very talented carver. His carving of a sitting old man, now in the collection of the "VOLKENKUNDIG MUSEUM" in Leiden-Holland resembles that of the famous Geremboeang carving.(1873 - 1953)MasClick for more info about this artist
TAMAN1Click for more info about this artistIda Bagus Poetoe TamanA second carving by Taman and his photo.(.... - ....) Click for more info about this artist
TAMEClick for more info about this artistI TameSpecialist in animal carvings. The carving on the picture was donated by Bonnet to the Volkenkunde Museum in leiden, Holland.(.... - ....)NjuhkuningClick for more info about this artist
TANGGAPClick for more info about this artistI TanggapHis name apears in a brochure of a sales exhibition of the Pita Maha in 1936. He was represented there with 2 carvings.(.... - ....)BangliClick for more info about this artist
TOENDOENClick for more info about this artistI ToendoenActive during the 1930s(.... - ....)unknownClick for more info about this artist

 
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