Ari Purpa was born and grew up in Ubud. She is the daughter of one of Bali’s most eminent gallery owners and art curators, Nyoman Purpa, who has run a well known gallery in Ubud since 1970. Almost 2 years ago, Ari decided to follow her father’s footsteps and opened her own gallery in Seminyak, Purpa Gallery, a space filled with works by some of her favourite local and international artists. We got to know Ari and a bit about her gallery, read on to discover all the secrets of the Bali art world!
How many artists do you currently have in the gallery and where do they come from?
We have eleven artists currently exhibited at my gallery. 80% of them are Indonesian local artists and 20 % are foreign artists. One of them is the award winning Mohammed Harahap from Jakarta. His artworks are among the many collections at Rudana Museum & Agung Rai Museum in Bali, Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan, and British International Museum in London and Jakarta. Another is Mersuka Dopazo, a Bali resident originally from Spain. Her paintings are portraits of the world, its people and their emotions.
What do you look for in artist?
First, I look at their character! I like to work with an artist who is confident, someone who is humble and have so much warm energy to share, I also love beautiful colors.
Your favorite artist in the gallery at the moment?
My favorite artist in the gallery at the moment is Mersuka Dopazo. She uses mixmedia (fabrics, papers…) mixing beautiful colors together on her canvas.
Who are your main clients?
Our clients are mainly from Australia and Europe who are here in Bali for their holidays and wanting to bring back home a unique piece of art from Bali.
Do you remember the first painting you sold when the gallery first opened?
Of course, I will never forget this moment! I sold a painting by a young Balinese artist,Ketut Budiantara. It was a 100 x 150 cm. The artist painted two beautiful sisters in a mixed of green, yellow, and a gold colors. I had tears in my eyes when I had to let it go… I really miss this painting!
Any recommendations for first time buyers?
Buy the painting that made your heart skip a beat when you saw it for the very first time. Buying a painting is like falling in love, from the moment you saw it, you just can’t stop thinking about it! And don’t buy wholesale paintings, copies of masterpieces for export or imitations with no creativity. It’s far better to support and encourage young aspiring Indonesian artists. Some of them are very talented.
How has the gallery evolved since it’s first opening in Seminyak in 2014?
We have great reviews from our clients. This makes us excited to give the best service and beautiful artwork to our clients. One of our artists is now in prestigious galleries in London and New York.
Your opinion about the art industry in Bali and what makes it special compared to other countries?
The art industry in Bali is still doing well. Compared to other countries, Indonesia and particularly Bali has such a beautiful and diverse culture, rich with traditions, rituals and people, that can inspire artists so easily. And the fact that most Balinese are born with natural artistic talents makes it so promising. We only need more support from the government to make this industry bigger and exciting!
Any upcoming events at the gallery?
We have regular exhibitions in several hotels in Bali and we’re using to join international art fair in Singapore and Hong Kong.
What is the next step for the gallery in terms of evolution?
We will keep looking for new talented artists to feature them in our gallery. They need to get a chance to expose their artwork and that is why we are here…We also want to buy more and more paintings to satisfy everybody.
