PUTU WINATA’S SUBAK PAINTING SERIES
Arif Bagus Prasetyo
At the Focus Art Fair New York 2024, Putu PW Winata showcases a selection from his latest series inspired by Subak. Subak is a farmer-managed irrigation system that has sustained Bali’s rice fields for nearly a millennium. The Subak ecosystem encompasses rice fields and water channels, villages, temples, and forests that safeguard the water supply. This harmonious integration of agriculture, religion, and nature reflects traditional Balinese wisdom, promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of life.
Subak embodies the Hindu-Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, meaning “three paths to happiness in life,” which emphasizes harmony between God, nature, and humans. This philosophy is reflected in subak’s practices: ceremonies in rice fields and water temples promote harmony with God, regulations among farmers foster harmony between people, and crafting rice fields to fit the land exemplifies harmony with nature.
Subak was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. This recognition highlights subak as a cultural landscape of Bali that manifests the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. UNESCO recognizes the subak system as a democratic and egalitarian system focused on water temples and the control of irrigation that has shaped the landscape of Bali over the past thousand years. Since the 11th century, the water temple networks have managed the ecology of rice terraces across entire watersheds. This unique system provides a sustainable solution for supporting a dense population on a rugged volcanic island, and is only found in Bali.
Subak transcends a mere water management system; it is a cultural tradition rich with rituals. Unlike typical irrigation systems, subak incorporates rituals held in rice fields and temples. These rituals, promoting harmony with God, aim to ensure bountiful harvests. Individual subak members perform a series of 16 rituals, starting with the ritual of fetching irrigation water and concluding with the post-harvest ritual. Additionally, collective rituals involve all members of a subak, while others involve multiple subaks at temples near water sources.
ARTWORK DESCRIPTION
Homage to Water
Putu Winata’s painting titled “Homage to Water” draws inspiration from the first ritual in subak’s cycle of 16 rituals. This ritual, known as Mendak Toya or Mapag Toya (meaning “fetching water”), marks the collection of water for subak irrigation channels. Through this ceremony, farmers seek blessings to ensure their fields receive the water needed for bountiful harvests.
The painting reflects the profound reverence farmers hold for water. For Balinese farmers, water is not just a vital resource, but also a sacred object, revered as the embodiment of God Vishnu. The subak system acts as a mechanism for sharing this sacred resource fairly, ensuring harmony and preventing conflicts that might arise due to competition.
“Homage to Water” transcends a mere depiction of a subak ritual. It serves as a powerful call to action in the face of global climate change. As freshwater resources dwindle, we are reminded of the urgency to celebrate and use water wisely and responsibly.
Return to the Water
The final ritual in the series of 16 subak rituals is Mantenin, a post-harvest ceremony held after the rice is safely stored. This ceremony expresses profound gratitude to the deities for ensuring the rice can be stored well.
Following the Mantenin ritual, farmers perform a symbolic act before using the stored rice. They carefully select a small amount, pound the grains, and cook them as an offering to express gratitude and seek continued blessings. The remaining husks are burned at the edge of rice field water channels. The ashes are scattered into the flowing water, symbolizing the return of nutrients to the land and a prayer for fertility in the next cycle. Only after this ritualized first taste can rice from the barn be consumed or sold.
The ritual act of returning the husk ash to the flowing water inspired Putu Winata’s paintings “Return to the Water 1” and “Return to the Water 2”. In these works, water transcends its physical form, transforming into a powerful metaphor for life-regenerating natural power.
Morning Mist of Jatiluwih
Putu Winata’s painting titled “Morning Mist of Jatiluwih” draws inspiration from the natural atmosphere blanketing the terraced rice fields of Jatiluwih. Winata’s entire series of subak paintings originated from his research conducted in this specific internationally renowned subak area.
Jatiluwih is part of the Subak Landscape of Catur Angga Batukaru, one of the sites that form the entire UNESCO-recognized subak system in the cultural landscape of Bali. The terraced rice fields within this landscape hold a deep historical significance. Mentioned in an inscription dating back to the 10th century, they are among the oldest in Bali.
Jatiluwih exemplifies the enduring traditions of subak. Here, subak members meticulously uphold the entire series of 16 rituals. This dedication to tradition sets Jatiluwih apart, as not all subak communities in Bali still perform all 16 rituals in their entirety.
In Jatiluwih, farmers are required to plant traditional Balinese rice (Jatiluwih red rice) twice a year, relying minimally on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Jatiluwih landscape remains imbued with a deep sense of sacredness. Violation of traditional taboos and prohibitions is believed to bring spiritual sanctions in the form of misfortune.
Hymn to the Universe
Putu Winata’s “Hymn to the Universe” series sparks the imagination, inviting viewers to envision flower petals soaring skyward. Flower is a central element in offerings used throughout Hindu-Balinese religious ceremonies. The lyrical dance of shapes and colors in the paintings transforms into a prayer, carried aloft by the ethereal wings of flowers and wispy plumes of incense smoke ascending towards the heavens.
Symbolically, the series underscores the centrality of subak’s spiritual significance. Subak possesses temples and integrates rituals into water management practices across the landscape. Through rituals and offerings, subak fosters a harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and the spiritual world.