Like all of Balinese culture, when shopping the many arts and crafts boutiques during your Bali holiday, the two words that will spring to mind will be “exotic” and “ornate”.
The Balinese, it seems, imbue even the merest candle-snuffer or incense holder with its own soul, and usually with its own facial expression as well. The always-intriguing Do Something Different blog has a post on Ubud arts and crafts.
Ubud is a city in the central south of Bali, surrounded by rice paddies and ravine-dotted foothills. In history, the city was originally home to feudal lords under the king of Gianyar, and the citizens crafted art pieces and useful goods as tribute. Later, the spreading arts reputation of Ubud drew artists from Germany and the Netherlands. Ubud is also home to many museums, including Museum Puri Lukisan, Museum Neka and the Agung Rai Museum of Art.