Ceramic Arts Stay to Exist in Bali

Nowadays, ceramics or pottery has become a Balinese tradition remaining to exist and survive. Even, this art continues to be preserved and developed pursuant to necessity of the community. Recently, the development of ceramic handicrafts indicates a progress, either on the use of materials and its workmanship. Both design and styles change in accordance with the demand and passage of times. Moreover, the art of ceramics or pottery from outside Bali has now set to spread to this region.
They market their ceramic products in Bali because Bali is a busy tourist destination visited by myriads of world tourists. Nevertheless, traditional ceramic or earthenware vessel craftsmen at Kapal Village, Mengwi, Badung Regency, are still producing clay pottery. Through generations since hundreds of years ago, residents of Basangtamiang and Tegal Saat, Kapal Village, have deeply involved a pottery maker. This handcraft works mostly involve housewives, while husbands make this work as a side business after working in their paddy fields and dry fields. By and large, their product is earthenware for kitchen equipment, such as cooking equipment, water container and others.
There is a variety of potteries used for the needs of Hindu religious ceremonies with the so-called coblong, dulang, jempere and so forth. As fuel for the production process, they remain to take advantage of firewood especially coconut shell and fiber and straw that are easy to obtain from the surrounding areas. Since the rapid development of Bali tourism, Balinese pottery craftsmen also received orders from local hotels and restaurants. They usually demand various kinds of pot, vase, garden spot lights, contemporary sculptures and ashtrays. Even some restaurants ordered plates and appliance for cooking rice that look so unique. “Cooking by this pottery will make the rice to taste more delicious,” said a vendor of ceramic vessel from Kapal Village.