Palm leaf wall hanging, 'Praying Buddha'

"I like writing on lontar as I feel happy expressing and appreciating our ancient traditions and culture, " professes Nengah Dika. Akin to a scroll, the lontar or palm leaf unfolds from bamboo rods to reveal the presence of a young Buddha, in prayer. This image of the great spiritual teacher is known as the Buddha Berdoa, or "Praying Buddha." Finely detailed, this lontar leaf wall hanging by Dika exudes spiritual magnificence. Lontar leaf has specific characteristics that enabled the ancient Balinese to develop literature as part of a continued study on culture. Writing or making pictures on lontar is an art and as well as an education. Dika selects only the oldest and thus strongest pieces of lontar for his compositions, which he engraves with a fine chisel especially designed for this art.