Born in Zaandam, The Netherlands in 1916, Arie Smit was a student of the Academy of Arts in Rotterdam before he arrived in Indonesia in 1932. He stayed and settled in Bali as an Indonesian citizen. Smit is also noted to have nurtured a group of young Balinese artists. He had held several one-man exhibitions in Indonesia, Hawaii and Japan. In 1992, the provincial government of Bali gave him the Dharma Kusuma, Bali’s highest award for artistic achievement. In “Sanur Sea”, Smit skillfully captures the essence of the sunny, windy seaside through vibrant, energetic strokes. The simple delineation of colours and lines sketch the human figures and boats. Smit’s works focus on the simple and daily life of the Balinese. Through colours, Smit expresses his love and understanding of the life and land of Bali.
