Lempad of Bali

I Gusti Nyoman Lempad was probably the greatest Balinese artist of his generation, being an architect, sculptor, painter and teacher, his life which started around 1862 ended in 1978, when he was around 116 years old.

This film, which was made at the request of his heir, centres around the cremation services that followed his passing, and explains in a vivid way the Balinese belief system, the intertwining of the spiritual and the mundane, and the role of art in the life of the people.

Master Lempad was not only a great artists himself, but also a great teacher and many of the artists of Bali to this day studied with him. His most enduring monument remains the Pura Taman Saraswati (Saraswati Water Temple), one of many temples he built in Ubud.

The film was made by Lorne Blair (whose other films about Indonesia I have posted elsewhere) and John Darling for ABC in Australia in 1980, and is a worthy memorial to the great man, and to his legacy.