Buying Nyoman Lempad paintings – Highest Prices Paid: Artist Bio & images follow:
I GUSTI NYOMAN LEMPAD (Balinese, 1862-1978).
I Gusti Nyoman Lempad was born in Bedulu in 1862. Considered the most famous of all Balinese artists, he was a painter and also a superb carver of Balinese religious imagery. Although illiterate, he was considered a Hindu sage who carried on conversations about culture and aesthetics with the anthropologist Margaret Mead and the painter Rudolf Bonnet. His father, I Gusti Ketut Mayuko, was an “Undagi” or traditional architect during Blahbatuh Kingdom. It was his father’s influence that caused the artist to avoid formal schooling, and to instead look to experience and nature for knowledge.
In 1875, after the thirteen year old Lempad’s talent offended one of his teachers, he left for Peliatan and later sought the protection of the royal court in Ubud. He remained in Ubud for many years, and later was associated with the “Pita Maha” group. After artist Walter Spies gave him paper, he excelled in drawing, and executed many black and white works portraying mythological scenes.
An outstanding carver and architect, Lempad also built monumental gates and temples. He directed the construction of Pura Saraswati and personally sculpted the statue of Jero Gede Mecaling, a ten foot high image of the demon lord of epidemics and pestilence.
In 1978, at the age of 116, Lempad found himself near death and called together his relatives who dressed him in white. His “conscious death,” which occurred soon after added to his legend.
An interview with the artist, followed by his “conscious death” at age 116 can be viewed in the video below :
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