There are many ways to mark two decades of a resort’s story, but at Bvlgari Resort Bali, the anniversary was turned into an occasion to look beyond the property itself and towards the community that has long been part of the island’s cultural fabric. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the resort invited 20 Balinese children to reinterpret the centuries-old Kamasan painting tradition, transforming an ancient artistic language into a deeply personal expression of emotion, imagination and hope.
Unveiled at The Bvlgari Chapel on 23 September 2026 – the exact date of the resort’s anniversary – the exhibition brought together 20 paintings created by children aged between six and 12 from local Balinese primary schools. The initiative was developed in collaboration with Save the Children Indonesia, with support from Bank BRI, and placed the children at the centre of an artistic dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary childhood experience.
At its heart was a simple but resonant idea: sometimes art can provide a language before words arrive. With recent surveys noting that one in three Indonesian adolescents experienced a mental health problem in the previous year, the programme sought to create a space where younger participants could recognise, explore and express their emotions through colour and painting.
A four-century tradition, reimagined
Kamasan is recognised as the oldest surviving school of classical Balinese painting. Named after the village of Kamasan in Klungkung, the tradition has been practised for more than four centuries, with its narrative scenes traditionally painted using bamboo brushes and natural pigments according to established conventions. Historically, Kamasan paintings adorned the ceilings of the royal courts of Klungkung.
The tradition already has a presence within Bvlgari Resort Bali, where Kamasan imagery stretches across the ceiling of The Pavilion. Its continuation has traditionally depended upon transmission from master to student and from one generation to the next. For this anniversary project, that lineage took on a new dimension, with the brush placed quite literally in the hands of a younger generation.
Working with Kamasan master Made Sesangka, the resort commissioned a series of outlined Kamasan paintings inspired by five fundamental human emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, surprise and anger. These compositions became the starting point for the children, who were invited to colour and complete them according to their own feelings.
Guided by facilitators from Save the Children Indonesia, the children explored the naming of emotions and the translation of feelings into colour. The same five artistic grounds consequently evolved into 20 individual interpretations, each reflecting the perspective of the child who completed it.
From Little Gems to young artists
The project began during a weekend at the resort, when the 20 children were welcomed as guests of the Little Gems Clvb. Their experience opened with a treasure hunt across the resort grounds, with each stop introducing a new activity, before moving into a conversation around wellbeing and eventually a Kamasan painting session in the Mansion.
For General Manager Carlo Bevilacqua, the setting of the anniversary was particularly significant. “Bvlgari and Save the Children have stood together for 17 years,” he said, while acknowledging that the resort itself was built on a cliff cared for by the people of Bali long before its arrival. The decision to celebrate with the island’s children, its art and its traditions therefore became a natural expression of the occasion.
The initiative extended beyond the creative experience itself. With the support of Bank BRI, each child received a BRIZZI card and a BRI Junio savings account opened in their own name, each with an initial deposit, providing a tangible element to the programme for the children and their families.
Art with a purpose
The completed paintings were exhibited at The Bvlgari Chapel on 23 September, creating an atmospheric setting for works that connected Bali’s artistic heritage with the personal worlds of its youngest participants. The paintings were suspended within the chapel-like space, their traditional compositions taking on a distinctly contemporary character through the children’s use of colour.
Each of the 20 works was made available for adoption, with proceeds donated in full to Save the Children Indonesia. The funds are directed towards the organisation’s humanitarian pool fund, supporting first-response relief for children affected by natural disasters across the Indonesian archipelago.
The exhibition also forms part of a broader relationship between Bvlgari Resort Bali and Save the Children Indonesia. Their partnership began earlier in 2026 in support of the organisation’s 50th anniversary in Indonesia, with the resort previously presenting a bespoke Umbrella of Hope sculpture hand-painted in Kamasan style by Made Sesangka.
That earlier sculpture drew upon the image of a child sheltered beneath an open umbrella, symbolising protection and a safe space in which every child can grow with hope and dignity. The Kamasan exhibition takes the relationship one step further: rather than simply representing children through art, it gives children the opportunity to become its creators.
For Bvlgari Resort Bali, the anniversary thus becomes more than a celebration of longevity. It is a reflection on place, heritage and the importance of passing traditions forward.
For more information, visit bulgarihotels.com/bali.
