I Wayan Tohjiwa

I Wayan Tohjiwa was born in Peliatan, Ubud, in 1916. In the 1930s, he became acquainted with German painter Walter Spies, and later with Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet. When the two foreign artists founded the Pita Maha art collective, Tohjiwa joined as a member.

Tohjiwa developed a distinctive artistic style, particularly in the way he rendered human figures. His paintings often depict crowds of Balinese men and women engaged in ceremonial scenes—such as temple rituals or prayers in the rice fields. His use of color skillfully contrasts light and dark, creating a strong sense of visual tension. His refined technique subtly incorporates elements of Western photographic realism, reflecting the influence of European art traditions.
I Wayan Tohjiwa passed away in 2001.