The Apurva Kempinski Bali launched the Gallery of Art Volume II program held through the art and dance performances at the Pendopo Lobby on April 1, 2023. The gallery is to appreciate the works of talented Indonesian artists through a neat collaboration of artist and photographer Stephane Sensey with traditional dance maestro of Indonesia. “We invited all guests to witness the Javanese-Bali Dwimuka Dance performance as well as a neat collection of photography,” said General Manager, Vincent Guironnet, recently.

In the exhibition were showcased a collection of photos by Stephane Sensey up to June 30, 2023. Going forward, this Art Gallery is a truly special program. “We are excited to collaborate with the great artists Stephane Sensey and Didik Ninik Thowok to join with us. This Art Gallery will present a different artist every three months, be it painting or fine art,” said Vincent Guironnet.

This five-star resort program also offers footage from the 2023 campaign entitled Powerful Indonesia. “We will put more emphasis on Indonesia’s extraordinary talent, and we cannot wait to share more about the exciting plans we have in the future,” he added.

From Biarritz in France, Sensey moved to Bali in 2004. He discovered his passion for photography and started his journey exploring the continent of Asia. Known for his documentary photography style focusing on culture, spirituality and diversity, Sensey has also exhibited his work in galleries and international festivals.

This winner of the Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) 2020 has also published several books of his photographs, including Walok which presents black-and-white portraits of the Papuan Dani tribe. This book also serves as a tribute to the traditions of one of the most isolated and traditional tribes in the world.

Meanwhile, Didik Hadiprayitno is an Indonesian dancer who is famous for his cross-gender performances of traditional Javanese and Balinese dances. Starting his dance career at the age of 12, Didik Nini Thowok has developed more than 200 dances that incorporate aspects from various cultures and genres, including classical, modern, comedy, pantomime, singing, and make-up.

Graduated from the Yogyakarta Institute of the Arts, Didik is one of the few artists who continues the long tradition of “Traditional Cross Gender” and has received various awards and recognition for his contributions to Indonesian culture, such as the prestigious Jakarta Academy Award 2022. Didik Nini Thowok is currently the Director of Natya Lakshita Dance School where he keeps on teaching young generation dancers as well as active in social activities and cultural preservation projects. (BTN/015)