Читать книгу Gecko's Complaint Bilingual Edition - Ann Martin Bowler - Страница 3

INTRODUCTION

As a nation with over 18,000 islands, Indonesia has hundreds of traditional languages and cultures, each with myths and legends to tell. With its backdrop of volcanoes, earthquakes, dense jungles, diverse wildlife and people, it is not surprising that Indonesia is rich with fabulous, imaginative tales.

Indonesia’s many stories have traditionally been passed down through storytelling. For centuries, puppeteers have told long, interesting stories using delicately cut and colorfully painted shadow puppets.

The Indonesian island of Bali has a strong art and storytelling tradition. For centuries, Balinese painters and sculptors elaborately decorated the island’s many temples. With the arrival of western artists in the 1920’s, Balinese artists began to add depth and shading to human figures, use perspective and brighter colors. Today, Bail is alive with talented artists who capture local life in their detailed paintings of rice fields, farmers, marketplaces, musicians and dancers.

The Balinese are a gentle, spiritual people. Though not particularly wealthy, the Balinese are an amazingly happy people. With its classic Balinese artwork and its message of appreciating the good in one’s life, Gecko’s Complaint is a perfect introduction to the true spirit of Bali.