I Nyoman Tjokot
Primitive Statue
Height 13cm x Width 9cm x Depth 10cm
media
- Wood
mark
Estimate
SGD 1,600 - 2,300
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I Nyoman Tjokot
Indonesia
1886 – 1971
I Nyoman Tjokot was born in Jati village, Tegalalang, Ubud, Bali, where he also served as a pemangku (temple priest). Deeply spiritual, he often drew inspiration from reading sacred Hindu texts inscribed on lontar leaves and meditating at Pura Agung Taro. His art embodied a distinctly Balinese essence, expressed through hauntingly powerful carvings of beasts and demons. Unlike many sculptors, Tjokot never began with outlines; he relied purely on imagination and instinct, allowing the natural shape of the wood to guide his creative process.
Tjokot showed his respect for nature by never cutting down living trees. He chose instead to work with abandoned or weathered pieces of wood, often collected from riversides. In 1969, the Indonesian Government recognized his achievements with the Wijaya Kusuma Prize.