Mas

Welcome, esteemed traveler, to the illustrious village of Mas. As a scholar of Southeast Asian art, history, and anthropology, I find no place more compelling for the rigorous, detailed study of Balinese woodcarving and Brahmanic…

Our exploration begins in the very spaces where the magic is forged: the traditional, open-air artisans' ateliers that line the streets of Mas. As you approach these workshops, the first thing that strikes you is the incredibly…

We now focus our attention on a highly specialized and deeply revered subset of the carving tradition in Mas: the creation of sacred masks, or Topeng. As an anthropologist, I find the study of masking traditions to be one of the…

We now approach a site of immense historical and religious significance, Pura Taman Pule. As a historian, I consider this temple to be one of the most compelling and critical landmarks not just in Mas, but in the entire Gianyar…

Moving toward the geographical and social center of Mas, we find ourselves standing beneath the sprawling, magnificent canopy of a massive Banyan tree, known locally as the Waringin. In Balinese urban geography, the placement of…

We now transition from the dusty, raw energy of the active workshops to the refined, hushed environments of the master galleries that have made Mas internationally famous. As we enter these expansive, meticulously curated spaces,…

As our intensive scholarly tour of Mas begins to wind down, it is essential that we examine how the high art and deep theology we have discussed intersect with the rhythms of everyday, common life. And there is no better way to…

As we conclude our rigorous exploration of the village of Mas, I invite you to take a final, lingering look at the extraordinary environment that surrounds you. We have journeyed through a community that defies the rapid, often…