It is pretty difficult to ignore the beautiful Balinese masks sold everywhere on the island. These masks seem like regular souvenirs but we soon learned that there is much more behind them.
So what are Balinese masks used for? In the past, Balinese masks were considered sacred and were only used in temples during dance performances. During these dances, the Balinese teach each other epic stories of their Hindu religion. Main themes were:
- Celebration of the various stages of life.
- Rice planting and harvesting season.
- The victory of good over evil.
The most famous dances in which they use sacred masks are the Topeng dances and the Barong dances. At these dances, they copy movements from the Wayang Kulit.
Today the masks are still of great importance in the temple. However, since the arrival of tourists in the 1960s many masks are sold to tourists or made for export. The quality is different compared to the masks made for the temples.
Where are Balinese masks made?
Balinese masks are found in almost every temple on the island. But the village of Mas located south of Ubud is particularly famous. They are known for their amazing traditional carved masks and other exotic Balinese decorations.
The streets of this little village are filled with small art shops and galleries. This is the place to get the best deal on any mask from Indonesia.
Who makes the Balinese masks?
Mask carvers are called the Undagi Tapel. They have to be a member of the Brahman caste to become one. This caste is the highest on the island and the members know the required rituals involved with making a sacred mask.
With the arrival of tourism in the 1960s foreigners started to show interest in these masks as a way to decorate their walls back home. From that point on a new style was born called ‘the wall mask’ and ‘masks on teak wood panels’ for interior decoration.
Funny enough the Balinese do not keep their masks on the wall. This is considered a sin. They place these spiritual treasures in cotton bags, strapped in the temple complex.
When you walk around Mas you’ll find many craftsmen working on Balinese modern masks, beige Balinese masks, or primitive masks where they use over 30 different tools to carve out the wood.
They often use mahogany wood, Suar wood, crocodile wood, Sono wood, hibiscus wood, and teak wood.
What do Balinese masks symbolize?
The Balinese believe that everything has a soul: the rain, the winds, a rock, and even a mask. We don’t have any control over these forces of nature. However but the Balinese believe that the ancestors have the power to direct the forces of nature
Balinese masks symbolize the spirits from the ancestral world. Through these masks, spiritual worlds can find their way to the modern world.
The dancers who are allowed to wear masks play an important role. There are purification rituals and blessings for the dancers before the spirits are called upon. It is considered very sacred and is a privilege.
The dance performances held at the temple and the performance held for tourists are of course different.
What is a Balinese Face mask?
The Topeng masks are Balinese face masks. Topeng means ‘mask’. This mask is only used by men who wear several of them during a performance.
The Topeng dance teaches the audience stories of kings and noblemen. Depending on the various masks used, these stories are often humorous or have a moral twist to it.
Dancers who wear whole masks depict noblemen and kings while half-masks display clowns or other humorous characters. They even have mad or funny ones that portray diseases making sure that humor can make this topic a bit more lighthearted.
Perhaps this is why the Balinese are known for their huge smile, silly jokes, and their ability to laugh about almost everything.
What is a Barong mask used for?
The Barong is a lion-like character. It has its origin in Javanese mythology animism and maybe even China. He looks similar to the Chinese lion which is used to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
There are several types of Barong masks, some portray pigs, while others look like lions and buffaloes. They are the most popular ones and have fun looking expressions on their faces with big nostrils, eyes, and ears.
The Barong dance is believed to be an original dance from Bali even before Hinduism was introduced to Indonesia in the 1st century. The mask itself used in dance performances which depict a battle between good, the Barong, and evil, Rangda the witch.
The mask of Rangda is not difficult to spot too. It has a huge red tong, sharp fangs, bulging eyes, and a devilish look.
Rangda the witch is actually the mother of king Airlangga. She got expelled from the kingdom because she practiced black magic and worshiped the goddess of war, Durga.
Like most stories of evil and good goes, Rangda wanted revenge on the king, her own son. She asked the help of demons and bad spirits from the jungle to fight the king. She was so powerful that king Airlangga had to ask the help of the Barong.
The Barong arrived with Airlangga’s soldiers to fight Rangda and her evil demons but Rangda put a spell on the soldiers. They took their own keris (knives) to stab themselves in the chest and stomach.
The Barong was, however, stronger enough to reverse so the soldier seized to kill themselves. Eventually, the Barong won and Rangda was defeated.
How much does a Balinese mask cost?
A sacred Barong or Rangda mask can cost hundreds of dollars and takes around 4 months to make. The costume accompanying both masks can cost several thousand. Everybody in the community will contribute to getting the outfit produced.
The sanding process and the materials used make this process very time-consuming. They mostly use goatskin, buffalo and horsehair, and boar’s teeth. Only natural colors are used with up to 150 coatings.
A proper tourist mask takes around 2 months to make and is far cheaper. The carver uses modern colors/paint and just has a couple of layers of paint. You can have a good-looking Balinese mask for around $25 USD.
Where can I buy a Balinese mask?
There are three types of masks found in most of the shops and galleries:
- The human masks such as the Batik wood mask or a Balinese tribal mask.
- The animal mask such as the Balinese frog and cat masks.
- The god masks and demon masks and these could be “whole masks” or “half masks” depending on the dance they are normally used in.
Since Mas is known for its quality masks we recommend going to this village if you are seriously looking for a proper mask. There are many galleries on the main road, Jalan Raya Mas.
A famous gallery is Ida Bagus Anom Suryawan with the Astina Mask Gallery. This is also the place where you can enroll in a woodcarving course.
Other high-quality galleries are the Njana Tilem Gallery, the Manis Gallery, and the I.B. Sutarja Art Gallery.
It’s very important when you buy a Balinese mask that you buy it at a gallery where the woodcarver is on site. You will get a better feel for authenticity, quality, products used, and the story behind the mask.
Once you’ve bought your mask they can wrap it up for you. If you feel like buying a dozen of them, they can even put them in a sea freight container for you. You will not be the first one 😉
Don’t forget that once you’ve set your eyes on a certain piece it’s very important to negotiate the price. This is a standard procedure and part of the culture in Bali.
Of course, you can also find many shops where they sell cheaper Balinese masks. The markets in Sukawati and Ubud have plenty of them. And throughout the island, you’ll find hundreds of shops selling masks and other pieces of wood carvings.
Where can I see Balinese masks?
When you’re in Mas village have a look at the art shops and galleries. You can even meet with the woodcarver who can show you his style of work and which tools and type of wood he uses.
Don’t forget to follow some of the small alleys where you’ll be surprised about what you will find.
At the Njana Tilem museum along Jalan Raya Mas you can also gain some knowledge about various masks and other pieces of high-quality wood carvings.
Another great place to see Balinese masks more and other Indonesian masks (and even puppets if you’re interested) is the Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets southeast of Ubud.
The owner, Pak Prayitno, has collected more than 1300 masks and 5700 puppets from various Indonesian regions and other places around the world. This museum is a hidden gem and it can be found on Jalan Tegal Bingin, Banjar Tengkulak Tengah in Kemenuh Village. Call +62 361 898 7493 to check if they’re open.
If you prefer to see the Balinese masks in action, then make sure you attend a performance. The Barong and the Legong dance are popular dances that are held daily, particularly in the Ubud area.
Do you have a mask that is your favorite? Or have you visited an Udagi Tapel and you like to share your story please let us know in the comments below.