Painting Dreams: The Story of Agus Mahardika’s Dedication to Art

Let me tell you about I Gede Agus Mahardika, a talented painter who’s been passionate about art since he was a kid. When he was in elementary school, he started painting with watercolors, learning from his uncle. As he grew up, he and his friends in junior high school got really into a style of painting called Young Artist, which was super popular at that time.

One day, Agus met Pak Kaler’s younger brother, who became a big help to him. They turned Agus’s uncle’s house into a cool painting spot where they could practice and get better. After finishing high school, Agus decided to study art in college. For 5 years he dedicated him self to study arts at Institute Seni Indonesia (Indonesia Institute of Art) in Bali. He learned all kinds of painting styles like abstract and realist, but his heart was always drawn to the Young Artist style.

In 2020, Agus started focusing more on the Young Artist style with Pak Kaler’s guidance. He became part of the Pelangi Art community, where he felt his passion for painting grow even more. He believes this style is perfect for blending traditional Balinese culture with modern art. Agus loves painting so much that he’s decided to make it his life’s work, without taking any other job on the side. His paintings are inspired by the beautiful nature of Bali and the daily life of Balinese people. In the future, he hopes more young people will learn to paint, especially using the Young Artist style, to keep telling the stories of Bali’s rich culture and traditions.