MORE FOR THE
  ART  COMMUNITY:

  ======================

 CHRIS: Do you think there can be too
 many fish in the one pond? Do you think
 artists eat each other or push each other up?
 PRANOTO: Both are true; but as human
 beings we need community. If you want
 to be a good creative artist in the film industry,
 then you go to Hollywood, but over there one
 should be warned that there are many actors
 or movie directors who only go from the
 movie-schools to the rubbish heap.
 I think it is very good to have more artists
 helping each other. Then you can find your
 own way for yourself. You get some idea of
 whether you are any good by comparing
 yourself to the others.
 

 

White Fish, 1984
 Oil on canvas, 40 x 50cm

Balinese Masks, 1980
Oil on canvas, 65 x 50cm
 

 How good you are depends on separating
 yourself from the reality of all the art made
 around you. You can see yourself as
 separate from what others are doing,
 but if you live on the mountaintop with no
 artists, then that is also difficult. In an art
 community it is very good for the artists
 to see lots of artist friends doing this or that.

 CHRIS: The Balinese art community is
 quite mixed, with foreign, Javanese,
 and Balinese artists. How many are
 Balinese do you think?
 PRANOTO: I think about 60 to 70% of the
 art community are Balinese.  

 CHRIS: What is the main reason the
 artist community is important for you as
 an artist?
 PRANOTO: If you are one within the art
 community you are at least secure.
 As a friend in a community you can share
 the stories, the good times and the bad times.
 If there are some problems you can solve
 them together. Communities need to include
 customers and art critics, who are all good
 for you. Actually I am not a member of a
 formal art community. I don't belong to
 an art association, which is a kind of
 community I don't prefer. As painters,
 we are only part of a loose community,
 where everyone is free to do what they
 are doing.
 

Tenganan Pageringsingan, 1994
Oil on canvas, 150 x 300 cm

Nyoman Sadra, Stone Carver, 1979
Oil on canvas, 140 x 130 cm