LESUG, I NYOMAN (1933 - )

$2,850.00

$1,425.00

“Cockfight” (c.1975)

Oil on canvas

Signed lower right

*private collection, Sydney

Lesug is a respected Indonesian Painter. He was born in Kutuh, Ubud and started painting in 1953 under legendary Ida Bagus Rai’s tutelage. Besides a painter, he also served as a pemangku (priest) in the nearby temple. His works are meticulous and thorough, featuring various scenes of Balinese daily life, especially Ubud natural scenery. Lesug frequently exhibited in Bali Art Festival at Taman Budaya Denpasar. His works were among the collections of Museum PuriLukisan (Ubud), Neka Museum (Ubud), and East West Center (Honolulu). He participated in the Art Of Bali exhibitions in the same center in Honolulu during August till October 1988, and was asked to demonstrate his painting skill. Lesug had several noted pupils, including Mangku Sayang, I Made Jiwa and I Made Madra. Lesug pioneered ‘Lesugism’ style of painting, or known as ‘Kutuh’ style to his followers, the style is characterized by colossal figures in various fragments of Ngayah, mecaru ngaben and ogoh-ogoh parade. Ever since 1990, 'Lesugism' works are dominated with pink in colors, slightly different than Lesug’s own paintings. The subject of this painting is quite rare for Lesug, although the subject of Cockfighting is a prominent cultural theme in contemporary Balinese art.