Kiddie corner to the Kuta art market, behind Kuta Square, past the mall filled with photo developing shops and above a souvenir craft shop is a simple, easily overlooked Indian restaurant reached by climbing a steep wooden spiral staircase. You can't tell from ground level, but when you reach the top of the stairs, you see that the walls are lined with paintings of all shapes and sizes. This is the Artist Cafe in the community of arts. In the restaurant it is easy to take the paintings for granted, the simple decor belies the grander ideals behind the art on display.  

The Artist Cafe opened last November with the current exhibit of two local artists. The artists, Salim Fachrudin and Wahyoe Wijaya are both from Kuta. The latter an artist of academic background, studied in Jakarta, the former a self-taught, non-academic artist. The distinction is important to Budhi Hastho, the general coordinator of Angkul-Angkul Art Communication, the organizers of the art at the Artist Cafe. The distinction is important because the mission of the Artist Cafe is to show that the distinction is really not important. The mission of the organizers is to show that art is for everyone, from everyone, not only academics and not only in the mainstream galleries. Kuta was chosen for a similar reason. "To support our vision to say art lives in Kuta, to reawaken the art life in Kuta," says Budhi. To say that art doesn't only live in Ubud.  
The artists are unknown, the gallery doesn't operate on a profit motive. "The Artist Cafe was created to give artists a chance," says Budhi. "The artists selected are not from the mainstream of recognized culture and are not always from an academic background, but the art is chosen because it has a quality or something unique in its theme or technique." 
The little restaurant has also become a venue for art and discussion. Artists and non-artists, Balinese and ex-pats meet informally for heated and passionate discussions about the arts in Bali. There is no set regularity for the meetings, which are organized ad hoc via the telephone network when someone feels its time to meet. However more formal presentations with keynote speakers are planned for the future and these will be widely publicized.

The Angkul-Angkul group want to bring art to non- traditional public venues. It is almost a process of the democratization of art, by removing art from the confines of academics, of mainstream galleries and of commercial motives. A recent exhibition organized by the group reflects the openness they seek in art. Last month the Joger T- shirt shop in Kuta Square was host to an exhibition of paintings from patients from the SLB and the Giwah hospital in Bangli, facilities that house the handicapped, the deaf, mute and blind. The exhibit also included paintings from more recognized artists from the community. Hanging side by side the art display erased the discrimination that exists between amateur and accomplished, between recognized artists and the unknown, between artists and others. An upcoming exhibit planned by the group will feature art by children. "Paintings and drawings by children are filled with a spontaneity and emotion that is natural and unrestrained," says Budhi. Angkul-Angkul want to find art from non-traditional sources. Art can be for everyone and also by everyone.

Jaye Wood

Above:
'The Last Tree' by Wahyoe Wijaya was exhibited at The Artist Cafe's opening show