Bali, FORTUNE - Marking the beginning of 2026, The Apurva Kempinski Bali continues its dedication to honouring Indonesia by preserving its rich artistic legacy. Honoured to showcase the work of the late Made Wianta - a visionary maestro and one of Bali’s most revered contemporary artists, the resort proudly presents an exclusive exhibition: Gallery of Art: Wianta & Legacy. Opening to the public on 23 January 2026 at the resort’s Pendopo Lobby, the exhibition reveals the profound beauty of the ‘Mandala’ through Wianta's eyes. His unique interpretation, translated into lines, dots, geometry, and space, invites the audience to view the universe as a vast field of interconnected rhythms, united by a holistic life force.
Made Wianta (1949 - 2020) was a visionary master and remains one of Bali’s most revered contemporary artists. Born in Tabanan, he emerged a transformative figure who challenged of classical traditions, successfully shifting Balinese art into a sophisticated new paradigm.
Seeking a global perspective, Wianta lived in Brussels, Belgium, from 1975 to 1977, where he immersed himself in European galleries and staged international exhibitions. This period refined his aesthetic, enabling him to blend Western influences with his deep-rooted knowledge of Balinese Karawitan music and classical Wayang painting. His illustrious career included representing Indonesia at the prestigious Venice Biennale in 2003 and exhibiting at the Mike Weiss Gallery in New York. Documented in numerous definitive books, his legacy continues to bridge the gap between ancestral heritage and modern innovation, securing his place as a legendary figure of Indonesian art.
The eleven curated masterpieces showcased within the Pendopo Lobby of The Apurva Kempinski Bali represent the third major series in his career. His Mandala reimagine the “Pangider-ider” or the Balinese system of nine directions as a modern Asian version of Picasso’s Cubism. Rather than just a religious icon, Wianta percieved the Mandala as a blueprint for perfect organisation. The circular designs represent the balance between the universe around the observer and their own inner peace, a harmony that everyone can feel when looking at his work. Through this collection, the audience is reminded of Wianta’s lifelong affinity for natural symbolism, specifically the mountains and the sea, and the profound sense of balance they to the world.