Tree-Themed Suar Wood Relief Panel - Gilded Tree of Life

Artisan Organization: Ketut Sudantara

Country: Bali and Java

"My name is Ketut Sudantara, and I was born in 1986 in a small village in Bali called Batubulan. My parents had four children, and I am the youngest. My father was a wood carpenter and worked in a wood gallery for a long time. He made many good sculptures before he retired. Sometimes during his free time, he still tries to teach me something about wood sculpting.

"When I was a child, I was happy and played like any other kids around my neighborhood. But there was a moment which I cannot forget: I was hit by a motorcycle, that accident broke my leg, injured my head and also opened a cheek wound. I was 5 years old, if I’m not mistaken, and I had to be hospitalized for over a month.

"Like other kids around my neighborhood, I went to school until I graduated from senior high school. And then I continued to study computers after I graduated. I worked as a technician in a cellphone service center. After a while I left to work at 5-star hotel as a CCTV operator under the security department.

"But, once the pandemic hit the world, then the hotel where I worked was no longer providing the usual salary. That made me think about how to get another income; and when I saw my father work with wood, I realized that I also have the ability to produce quality wall décor. And then my mother-in-law, who is also a woodcarver, suggested coloring the panels with antique colors, which is not common and might attract people to look into my works.

"I am married, and thank God, I am blessed with two daughters. The life of a father is so different compared to when I was still single. Now, my concentration is all about my family and children. I work hard to provide for them. Sometimes when I feel tired or unmotivated, then just listening their laughter or giggles makes me happy and motivated again.

"I hope that by joining Novica, I can offer another style of wood panels and wood sculptures, surely with good quality." "