Ubud Open Studios 2024 Wrap-up

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What an incredible edition of Ubud Open Studios. Our third and the best to date! From the Studio Showcase and Artists Talks at Titik Dua, to the 57 studios who kindly opened their doors, to the 500 attendees who made their way studio hopping around Gianyar, it was an amazing three days.

Ubud Open Studios invites art lovers, cultural explorers, and the creatively curious to our annual celebration of art in Ubud, Bali. Behind every artwork is a story, a creative process—an artist’s journey.

This year, Ubud Open Studios showcased over 50 local and international artists’ studios, inviting you to enter their world of creativity and craftsmanship. A journey of artistic discovery & connection offering a glimpse into the sacred spaces where art comes to life. It's about community—an opportunity to connect, converse, and collect experiences and artworks that resonate.

Behind the design: Room4Dessert merchandise

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We were excited to create a line of merchandise for Room4Dessert based on Chef Will Goldfarb’s recipe notes, written in the back of a copy of A Moveable Feast. The quick sketches, loops of the pen, and the English and French words that jumped out of the scribbles, like pamplemousse, chocolate milkshake, citron and creme brulee, made us fall in love.

We created a t-shirt, water bottle, apron, tea towel, notebook and shopping tote based on an image that appeared in Chef Will’s cookbook taken by Martin Westlake. All are available to buy at The Powder Room by Room4Dessert.

Present Space: an exhibition by Salvita De Corte and Naomi Samara

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”I needed room. I needed room for the rivers and for the rain and for the way the almonds came into blossom..., room in which to play with everything I remembered and did not understand.”

—Joan Didion, Let Me Tell You What I Mean

In Present Space, Visual Artists Naomi Samara and Salvita De Corte seeks to delve into the intricate dynamics of our connections with the spaces we inhabit. Salvita and Naomi’s artworks captures the environment’s transformative power as a catalyst for moments of expression and profound connection. Both artists explore the ways in which a literal space can give the ultimate permission to express the non-conceptual.

Rather than a search for finite answers, their fluid and spontaneous figures and scenes narrate a journey toward unknown depths within a present moment. Through their drawings, sculptures and paintings, a sense of connection is conveyed, grounded in the spaces they occupy, and the bonds forged within them.

Exhibition Duration:

16th of December 2023 — 6th of January 2024


The Dinner Series: Present Space

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We couldn’t let 2023 pass without The Dinner Series! This time we gathered to dine with Fed and Made Dhanu in the Titik Dua gallery surrounded by the artwork of Salvita de Corte and Naomi Samara. 19 guests joined us for a 5-course meal plated on Jenggala ceramics and a very special performance ended the evening. As always, the Dinner Series was hosted by co-founder Maya Kerthyasa.

We started the design of the dinner wanting a very minimalist and clean table to ensure the artwork of the Present Space exhibition remained the focus of the evening. We chose single white lotus blooms and white canvas cloth for the tables.

Place cards featured a Joan Didion quote used in the curator’s note of the exhibition written in white under the watercolor lettering of the guest’s name so you could faintly read the words.

Guests were invited to explore the exhibition before being seated.

The Fed menu was inspired by ingredients that were once common in Balinese dishes but are slowly disappearing due to the globalization of culinary arts. The local ingredients are slowly being forgotten. Some of the dishes are based on reminiscing about a childhood snack, a combination of Rujak Es and Rujak Cermai, resulting in the creation of cermai granita which was served with raw fish caught by local fisherman. The dessert also came from a home-cooked snack that Made’s grandma always made when salak was in season. The dishes were all plated on ceramics by Jenggala, a heritage Bali brand celebrating over 40 years of making incredible tableware.

The performance was presented by St Udyana, a youth group from Taman, Ubud. The dancers also played instruments and surrounded the guests with a story of knowledge and culture flowing like water and filling up all the spaces.

The final touch came from Salvita De Corte as she washed the white on white printed menus with watercolors to reveal the menu of the evening for attendees. A perfect final moment.

The opening of the new Threads of Life gallery in Lungsiakan

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When the Threads of Life team came to us many moons ago and told us of their idea to open a new gallery, their first retail expansion in 22 years, we were overjoyed. When we saw it coming together we started to get excited. When we walked in through the doors the day it was officially completed, our jaws were on the ground.

To put together the opening event was an honor and we were so happy to see over 100 supporters and friends of the organization come into the space and make sure it was thoroughly warmed. The new gallery is truly magical and we’re looking forward to programming more events their in the future.

In the words of Threads of Life: The new education and retail space is devoted to the textile arts of Indonesia and is a culmination of 22 years of our work with 1000 weavers across 12 islands in Indonesia.

We will continue to operate our first gallery on Jalan Kajeng, in central Ubud, which opened in 2001. At that time we were working with only 14 natural dye traditional weavers on three islands: 12 from Lembata, one in Flores, and one in Sumba.

The new gallery now holds natural dye textiles, traditional basketry, and carvings from 12 islands of this remarkable archipelago, including Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Timor, Lembata, Sumba, Flores, Savu, and Rai Jua, Bali, and Nusa Penida.

On these walls and shelves is the work of more than 1200 women and craftspeople who are committed to carrying on the traditions of their mothers and grandmothers.

We hope visitors will take their time, open the specially made drawers one by one, and look closely at the art that often takes more than nine months to create—the complexity of the dye process requires a rich diversity of dye materials across a range of terrains and climates. Visitors can also watch the Tradition Keepers Documentary Series in the lounge area, or book a class or residency at the Threads of Life Natural Dye Studio.

Behind the design: Snakes and Ladders Ubud Folklore featuring Bagus Ari Maruta

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Welcome to Snakes and Ladders: Ubud Folklore! Featuring original color-soaked artwork by Bagus Ari Maruta, a third generation Ubud artist, this game highlights Balinese symbols of safety and protection. The board features 10 coiled crowned snakes, guarded by a Bhoma looking down on the game as mythical Balinese birds peer up to watch over your progress.

“In my opinion, Snakes and Ladders is a game about life, where we try to achieve our expectations, like reaching the final square. In life there are ups and downs. That is not a sign to give up. You have to keep trying to achieve your expectations. In this Snake and Ladders, I took a Balinese icon we often see at the entrance to a house or to a temple. These carved stone guardians (Bhoma, dragons and mythical birds) symbolize safety or protection from evil and malevolent spirits.”

About the Artist:

Bagus Maruta is part of a new generation of Balinese artists. He was born in the hub of Ubud, which earned its reputation as the epicenter of Balinese art by the close of the 20th century. Maruta is a third-generation artist, traditionally trained by mentors and then at the Indonesian Art Institute. His artwork, characterized by vivid and exuberant colors, serves as a canvas for the meeting of diverse influences. Bagus Maruta's artistic creation is an Ubud Snakes and Ladders game that bears the unmistakable mark of his artistic expression.

About the lore:

In Balinese mythology, Bhoma is the son of Dewa Wisnu and Dewi Pertiwi, the god of rain and the goddess of earth. One day, when Wisnu was digging the earth in the form of Varaha, his avatar in the form of a wild boar, he encountered a beautiful earth goddess named Dewi Pertiwi. The encounter leads to a union (and torrents of stormy rainwater entering the earth) between Wisnu and Pertiwi producing a terrifying son named Bhoma. The figure of Bhoma that was produced by this union is seen as the growth of vegetation or forest (Vanaspati) as a result of the earth receiving the rain water. The word Bhoma came from the Sanskrit word bhaumá, which means something that grows or is born from earth.

The head of Bhoma can be found carved at temple gatez which marks the entrance to the holiest part of the shrine and at the base of the padmasana, the holiest and most central shrine in Balinese temples. The head of Bhoma is also seen in the Balinese cremation towers.

About the games:

This is part of a series of Bali games by Toko Elami. Each of the games features originally commissioned artwork from a Bali-based artist. Through the artwork, the artists explore different aspects of Balinese culture and life through their eyes. Living in Bali surrounded by Balinese myths and symbols, we've always been aware of the stories behind each one of them. We wanted to create unique products that capture the imagination for both kids and adults alike, while promoting cultural and traditional motifs to sustain Balinese heritage.




Room4Dessert Academy 2023

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The Room4Dessert Academy is an incredible initiative from Chef Will Goldfarb and the R4D team to share their knowledge, techniques, and recipes with students from around the world. This year has had four Pastry Intensives. We’re proud to provide behind-the-scenes support for the Academy, including managing registration, student liaison, design support for learning materials and excursions.

Photo by nyimas laulA

Photo by Nyimas laulA

In the words of Chef Will: The R4D Academy has been sharing the vision of restoring community through food for three years now. Following in the footsteps of its big sister Room4Dessert, the Academy has grown from a pastry only program, to include classes in all areas, from Zero Waste Cooking, to Miyawaki Forest Design, to Rustic Urban Thai, featuring our friends and experts from all over the world. At the same time, we don’t forget where we came from and what we know, which is to make great desserts and share our methods with the world.

With that in mind, we are proud to present our fourth edition of Pastry Intensives, focusing on the key techniques that make R4D a mecca for not only dessert, but culinary enthusiasts from across the globe. Starting in September, a week long feature on Ice Cream and Frozen Treats, is complemented by inside info on Creams and Mousses. We will walk you through all the steps to be able to make the best desserts in the world, right in your own home or restaurant. Designed for students of all levels, each class will drill down on the fundamentals and include insight into the ingredients, techniques and delivery of R4D’s iconic dishes.

Next up, in October, we are Cooking with Fire, and sharing the secrets of our Sauces, Gelees and Tropical Fruit cookery. November rain brings Fun with Cakes and Doughs. And December we present Great Garnishes and Finishing Touches. Pass through all four and you will have completed a Master’s in plated dessert making.

Each week this autumn, features a trip to a different producer - the backbone of the R4D universe. From salt making to cocoa plantations, our favourite Balinese artisans and craftspeople have got you covered. Step into our world. You will never see dessert in the same way again.

The excursions have taken us to some incredible spaces and places, diving deep into Balinese produce, the relationships between clay and food, farmer and chef, makers and consumers.


Art & Sugar: events at Powder Room by Room4Dessert

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Celebrating creativity in all its forms. We’ve been programming at the beautiful Powder Room for half a year now and love watching the relationships grow between different artists, attendees and the host. No matter what activity or art form it always ends with a sweet treat from The Powder Room ovens.

One of our favorite moments of magic was when Art Toy master Uncle Twis held a workshop at Powder Room and reimagined the Red Choux and Bombolini.

We then jumped into the world of plant parents with a Plant Swap and Houseplant Workshop led by Thousands Bloom. The incredible garden team of Room4Dessert brought some of their precious babies to swap with attendees too.

Gusti Dalem x Powder Room: Afternoon Tea #005

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The fifth afternoon tea at Powder Room by Room4Dessert was an afternoon covered in clay! The front room of Powder Room was transformed into a ceramics studio complete with two wheels! The teacher was Gusti Dalem, a young Balinese ceramic artist from Gianyar.

As always, the class ended with an amazing afternoon tea, including the famous papaya jamon sandwiches and mini bomboloni.

Who is Gusti?

Gusti began his ceramics practice at the age of 16, initially based on the advice of his parents who had already mastered the art of Balinese pottery. Gusti says ceramics is interesting because the process is very dependent on the emotional control of the creator.

He began actively conducting experiments on raw materials found in Balinese nature that can be used as glazes, including research on Balinese sand formulations.

His ceramic works highlight the fragile character and the character of Balinese clay as a whole. His ceramics studio is open to the public year round and offers regular classes.


Gumi Cards: a playing card deck featuring Balinese flora and fauna

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Our fourth game product is a playing card deck featuring line drawings of Balinese flora and fauna. As you play, find lotus flowers, dragonflies, squirrels, bats, banana flower blossoms and ferns representing each suit. Each Gumi Bali deck comes with a little booklet explaining the meaning behind the cards and the scientific names of all the species.

Gumi, meaning "earth" in Balinese, captures the essence of these playing cards. Each card showcases line ink drawings, hand drawn by Rumantra, a talented artist and passionate plant enthusiast based in Ubud, Bali. Rumantra's illustrations bring to life the vibrant flora and fauna of the island.

Each card was based on an original ink illustration by Rully Rumantra, seen here on display at Powder Room in Bali.

Gumi also has an accompanying coloring in book featuring all the illustrations, and hand screen-printed tote bags and t-shirts.

Cinta Bumi Artisans x Powder Room: Afternoon Tea #004

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The 4th art afternoon tea was a color explosion!

Powder Room by R4D hosted Novieta Tourisia from Cinta Bumi Artisans and her natural ink workshop. The guests co-created with nature and explored mark making with inks made from Indonesian plants before enjoying the afternoon tea perfected by Powder Room.

Cinta Bumi Artisans is a studio led by Novieta Tourisia that works with ecoprints and botanical colors on paper and cloth. Each dye comes from nature and is fully traceable. Cinta Bumi Artisans believes everything that has made us the way we are now was established by our ancestors. And we have the ability to choose their wisdom to guide us in the way we live today.

Live drawing with Urban Sketchers in Bali

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Urban Sketchers is a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing. We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Urban Sketchers Bali for Ubud Open Studios and also hosting a meet-up at Powder Room by Room4Dessert. The range of styles and perspectives of the members is an amazing thing to watch as they live sketch.

“for all sketchers out there who love to draw the cities where they live and visit, from the window of their homes, from a cafe, at a park, standing by a street corner… always on location, not from photos or memory.”

The Sketches from Powder Room

The sketches from Ubud Open Studios 2023

Download Elami’s Design Guide to Ubud

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If you’re looking to experience Ubud through design eyes, we have a guide for you.

Ubud is our hometown and we are fortunate to know many of the amazing creatives making beautiful spaces for people to enjoy.

This is our curated list and includes places we always take friends and family who are visiting. Think art, culture, hidden local gems, incredible views & architecture, artisan products, workshops, and more.

 

How did we choose?

These are all places and experiences that we like to go to ourselves. They are often are located in stunning places with great architecture or views, have good design (interiors, graphics, products), and are worth the money. They are curated with an eye for Bali made or designed with respect to our island home, and often have a connection to local artists and artisans.

Who’s curating the guide?

Elami Productions—producers of Ubud Open Studios, TEDxUbud, and many events and brand experiences in Bali.

What you get:

For Rp100,000 (~$7), you can download The Design Guide to Ubud and add the address pins directly to your Google Maps (download it to use offline).

Our notes are attached to each location explaining why we chose it and what you can’t miss about each pin.

Forever access. We promise to keep it updated with new places.

Rumantra x Powder Room: Afternoon Tea #003

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Continuing with the third afternoon tea party, Powder Room by R4D hosted Rully from Rumantra and his Botanical Line Drawing workshop. An afternoon full of botanical fun and channeling love for plants on paper.

The afternoon tea was paired with teas by Chon Tea, including a Yabukita aracha sencha harvested this spring, blended beautifully with sakura petals that are grown surrounding the tea plantation.