Born 1957, Kedewatan, Indonesia
Lives and works in Kedewatan

Through a prolific practice combining painting, sculpture and installation, I Made Djirna is one of Bali’s most respected contemporary artists. From his studio in Kedewatan, central Bali, he amasses tonnes of materials for his projects, in which he treats reclaimed and repurposed objects with deep consideration of their place in time, nature and human utility. Djirna’s approach blends the experiences and textures of indoor, outdoor, private, shared and ritual spaces, resonating with the shared living, working and spiritual environments particular to family-living in Bali, and the island’s natural elements.

For Kita, Djirna has constructed a textured, immersive environment from pumice stone, rock, terracotta and dried coconut husks. Strung together to create curtain-like assemblages, these monumental cascades and towers of material show faces and figures emerging between natural forms. For Djirna, the many strings that link the stones represent an underlying concept of togetherness and unity in the construction of the self.