Handmade Suratma The Gatekeeper Wood Mask (Bali)
$129.99
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Description

Ornate and fierce, Sang Suratma is stationed at heaven's door. According to the Hindu faith, he decides who is worthy of entry, and who is not. Made Mulyani creates an exceptional mask that captures the magic of spiritual traditions. Please note that wood color and grain can vary significantly from one piece to the next; this makes each mask a unique piece of art. Product Features: Dimension: 8.25" H x 8.25" W x 3.9" D Weight: 2.2 Color: Brown Material: Acacia wood Wood grain and color can vary slightly Intended as wall decor Signed by the artist Made In Indonesia Story Behind the art: I was born in 1975 to a wood carver family in a small town in Bali. We live in a rural area of the island that is so peaceful and where kinship bonds are strong. Our family's life was underprivileged, therefore I wasn't able to continue my studies after graduating from senior high school. I'm a simple woman who enjoys cycling and aerobics. Friends know me as an honest woman, a hard worker and a person who likes helping others. I married in 1997 and have two children who made my life become happier and perfect. Since then, there have been many changes in my life. I have more responsibilities now but the most important thing is my children's future. In 2002, there was a very difficult moment in my life. I was starting a small shop in the market with a bank loan. Suddenly, a bomb exploded in Bali's tourist area! People suffered a lot because most work is dependent on tourism. Bali became so quiet, and no visitors or customers came. I think this was the toughest time in my whole life. My island is rich in artistic and historical temples, which I love. Whenever there are ceremonies, I pray and perform our rituals there. I cannot imagine how our ancestors built such great temples with the limited tools and resources at that time. Bali also has beautiful scenery and friendly people from different cultures. My parents and my brother taught me to make sculptures. I started by watching them carving wood at home. I was excited with the final results and worked hard at learning how to create them. After high school, I worked at a supermarket but wasn't happy with the salary, so I decided to do wood carving after I got married. There are ten artisans helping me and we create designs inspired by Bali's traditional cultures. We use manual tools to like mallets, wood saws and chisels to carve acacia, suar and hibiscus woods by hand. By creating these beautifully detailed sculptures and masks, we'd like to introduce our traditional culture to the world. I heard about Novica from my brother-in-law, Made Wirata, who is also a Novica featured artisan. I hope our sales will grow and people worldwide will come to know our culture. The handcrafted touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen. Imported

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