from the first voyages, photos were fashioned for Europeans to distant lands that sailors visited. Sometimes an artist would sail to India at their own risk to earn a living by painting. There was a need for accurate mapping, accurate representations of the coast and of course, pictures of goods obtained locally. We are now far from that time in history, but we still want to know what was then and learn what is now. ongoing work of Davina include charts of our modern world. His knowledge of cartography and biology is evident.
Davina, you are a second genera tion traveler and expatriate born in New Zealand. After a year you moved to Australia. Your mother was a great traveler and your father was traveling around the world as a playe recognized International Rugby Union r, representing the All Blacks and the Wallabies. You came to stay in Bali at an early age, then left to pursue your desire to be an artist. Tell us about your experiences and ideas on your return to a "new Bali a decade later.
I came to Bali when I was seven. I could not imagine any other child at this stage and I'm very comfortable in the middle of the Balinese people and their way of being; the appearance of the extended family, and the community was comforting, warm and familiar to me. Surrounded by the classic elements of the tropics and sandy beaches, it was the island fantasy of a child.
Here I am, again. But all is not as we see on the surface. The images we conjure a place is an illusion. The search of the dream; which is an illusion. It is the substance behind the paradise that is so fascinating, shocking and provoking.
At 15, I was going to a school in
Himalayas. This school represents children from all over the world and was in one of the most remote places I had ever known at that time. It was only later in life that I realized how deep a place it was and he was an extremely exciting political moment. The school still exists today. This experience set my heart on India forever.
I knew I had to continue my studies, as was the protocol from my peers. I decided I wanted to do something related to art and attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I knew I could get out of there able to keep some type of career-related art.
In the late eighties, I passed through Italy and got a job on the island of Sardinia, Balinese sell things at a friend's shop. I quickly learned enough Italian to me and made money to continue my study plan in New York City. I finally got my head out of paradise and on a larger world.
In your previous work under the series entitled "sculpted 3D frame paintings," you set a precedent with paint spilling over relief carved frames using bright colors. Now you have spent more subtle washes combined with woodcuts. what caused this change
as an artist, I'm always looking to do my work ?; interesting not only for my public, but also for the sense of discovery involved in the creative process. I like to . think my art has a purpose and is not just a souvenir the goal is to make you think beyond what you see, to find out the metaphor in the work
We can see through the themes of your paintings that you not only have an intimacy with nature, with Bali and the local population, but also an endless energy that comes your surfing, kite surfing and your love of diving. Can you explain how you synchronize your interests and deal with the challenges present in your diverse lifestyle?
The biggest frustration for me is how to juggle time because I travel a lot, mostly from Indonesia, India and now Idaho USA. I find it challenging to divide my time and I came to this neglect that balances with the tides; painting, surfing, reflecting. Now I see the waves and surfing traffic and I think to myself, I prefer to put my energy into the studio time. I now take blocks of time for specific activities. An activity used to power the other. Now I have to choose my time to surf. My work has flowed much better then. Now I feel some pressure, with the hectic world we live in and a lifestyle that requires me to be in many places. I am very happy when I can grant and drop ", so to speak. Always wanting to be somewhere you are not a waste of time!
What do you work now and what makes it important?
I think everyone is fascinated by Balinese offerings. As a sculpture these offers are built from crowds of palm leaves. I use images and characters in my old paintings, and put them on the springs and attach to the offer. These framed sculptures are visual and tangible representations of a changing time. They are also an extension of the idea of the painting carved frame; topics and characters are exploding the artwork. It's like a nativity scene in Bali today. You can see the affinity I have with these works in Bali and it highlights the desire to know more deeply the essence of the scene in all its traditions.
I think this work represents a research I am on set where I am. Sometimes I feel facing an identity crisis, but I realize that this is part of what inspires me to create.
Davina is currently working on an exhibition in the US and commissions. To see the work go to Bali Warisan Living, Jl. Raya Kerobokan or Biasa Art Space, Raya Seminyak.
To get in touch, email Davinastephensart@gmail.com and visit www.davinaO.com