The Apurva Kempinski Bali today officially launches its Gallery of Art Vol. 5 with the exhibition The Space Between: Rediscovering What Connects Us. Transforming the resort’s grand lobby into a living gallery, the exhibition brings together four artists working in Bali: Novieta Tourisia, Made Wijana, Bagus Ari Maruta and Wayan Aris Sarmanta. Through their distinctive artistic practices, the four artists explore the connections between humanity, nature, cultural memory and traditions passed down through generations. From personal reflection and environmental awareness to traditional craftsmanship and contemporary interpretations of Balinese heritage, the exhibition invites audiences to rediscover meaningful connections and the wisdom that continues to shape our lives.
In a world where communication is constant, some of our most meaningful connections are becoming increasingly distant: our relationship with nature, our cultural memory and our understanding of ourselves. Through distinctive artistic practices, the four artists explore the relationship between human consciousness, the natural world and the knowledge inherited across generations.
“Bali has long embraced the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasises harmony between people, nature and the spiritual world. These connections are deeply rooted in Balinese culture and remain highly relevant to how we live today. Through The Space Between, we want to bring this philosophy into a contemporary context, working alongside artists based in Bali who interpret our traditions, cultural values and inherited wisdom through their own creative expressions. We hope to provide a platform that brings Bali’s artistic talent and cultural heritage to the world,” said Vincent Guironnet, General Manager of The Apurva Kempinski Bali.
Four Perspectives on the Space Between
Bagus Ari Maruta questions the growing disconnection between humanity and nature in No Signal. Its five panels, separated by deliberate empty spaces, represent a fragmented awareness of the natural and cultural environments that have shaped human life, with the absence of a signal as a metaphor for our diminishing ability to understand the world around us.
Novieta Tourisia, a textile and fibre artist, natural dyer and founder of Cinta Bumi Artisans, approaches the relationship from within. Through Inner Garden and her work with natural materials, textiles and traditional craftsmanship, she invites reflection on the personal spaces where awareness and care begin.
Made Wijana draws upon the tradition of Nagasepaha glass painting, carrying forward a visual storytelling tradition inherited across generations and showing how ancestral techniques and cultural narratives remain relevant in contemporary expression.
Wayan Aris Sarmanta brings a contemporary perspective to the painting heritage of Batuan. By reinterpreting established visual techniques, cultural symbolism and familiar narratives, he explores the relationship between inherited traditions and a changing society. Together, the works reveal that the spaces between people, nature, memory and tradition are not necessarily empty. They are where reflection begins, connections are rediscovered and knowledge finds new meaning. The exhibition also reflects on the responsibility of today’s generation to honour and carry forward the country’s cultural inheritance.
