The Mooi Indie and Photography in Modern Bali

The influence of European artistic styles, such as Impressionism and Romanticism, mixed with local artistic traditions and motifs, led to the emergence of an artistic genre later known as "Mooi Indië" or "Beautiful Indies" - a term coined as a criticism to the genre by one of the pioneers of modern Indonesian art, Sindudarsono Sudjojono, to describe this style of art that romanticized what he called "the holy trinity of mountains, coconut trees and rice fields".
In modern times, though, the narrative of the Mooi Indië seems to have evolved to meet the current standards of our digital era. But before I go deeper into this, first let me explain a bit more about what the heck I mean when I talk about the Mooi Indies movement.
Where before we had paintings of pristine rice fields and their farmers, we now also have tourists posing with conical hats and sheaves of rice over their shoulders.
Along with the woman in her ceremonial attire, there's the couple with rented sarongs and a mirror in front of a camera lens.
Next to the humble hut by the paddy fields now lays an influencer's bamboo house with a stunning view of Mt. Agung.
Next to the humble hut by the paddy fields now lays an influencer's bamboo house with a stunning view of Mt. Agung.
Still, I believe that we, as the conscious and cultured photographers and artists that we are, have at our disposal all the necessary tools for changing the old narratives of Bali or any other place we might find ourselves in.
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Instagram: / camali.ch
Website: camali.ch/
Music by:
Luis G. Espinosa de los Monteros: / de_los_monteros_
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[@goldfinch2283]

Well said! 👍

[@LuisGmoDeLosMonteros]

Duuuuude, this was great! It's our responsability to educate ourselves about the world, the people and the traditions.
Also, I think you are doing a great work showing us that Bali's side few people know.

[@camali_ch]

Thanks! I do believe so too

[@ancamo123]

Really interesting to learn about a nation that we only hear about its great things and all those pretty photos on Instagram, not knowing the harm that we might be unconsciously doing to it.

[@camali_ch]

Makes me think a bit about Mexico, tbh 😅