Balinese Tjondong Dancer

A very famous Balinese Legong dance is performed by three girls. The Tjondong dancer performs the introductory dance followed by two Legong dancers. The Tjondong dancer later performs an animated dance mimicking a bird, hence the carved leather wings painted gold.

I based this pose on a superb classic pose of one famous dancer Gusti Raka, featured in a book "Dancing Out of Bali" by John Coast.

Balinese cloth is typified by being stamped with gold leaf patterns and the cloth so treated is know as prada. Her headdress is made from carved leather painted gold and covered with fragrant jasmine flowers. Her makeup is delicate and her nails are painted.

This piece was converted based on my own specialised castings. Additional details were made from sheet metal and epoxy putty. Mixed media painted with Artist oils.

The setting represents a typical Balinese temple doorway with loose red brickwork as the dancer enters the stage and begins her performance.

Balinese Kebyar Duduk Dancer

The isle of Bali is really famous for its live performances. This dance was developed in the early 20th century by a balinese Mario I Ketut. Basically, it is a dance form where the male dancer enters the stage and dances from a sitting position, occasionally rising to flick the extended long cloth which he wears. His right hand is continuously waving a fan.

This model was made from a few commercial pieces, freely sculpted. All clothing material was made from soft metal sheet, painted and carefully draped. The patterns represent various types of dyed cloth (batik) fabric and were fully painted in artist oils. The background prop was made from plastic and represents a wooden cloth hanger (gayor).

Enga Tribesman, Papua New Guinea

The Enga Tribe was rather similar to the Melpa tribe in adornment. I have depicted this Enga tribesman in a unique headdress. This was worn during a moka exchange ceremony, the giving of seashells.

Huli Tribe, Mali dancer, Papua New Guinea

The Huli Tribesmen were known for their elaborate and large wigs, upturned on downturned and their yellow face paint.