Indonesia

Indonesia has a very unique and intricate history that is often seen in its arts. I was able to visit it recently and admire the architecture and culture. It was originally a Dutch colony, with is seen in the municipal building and urban architecture. However, the materials used are very different than the ones in the west. Many temples are made from palm bark and wood and were structured in a way to deal with the humid environment. The roofs are layered, which helps keep rain out of the buildings. Due to the geographical locations of Indonesia, containing thousands of islands, they developed relatively independently. For example Java is primarily Muslim while Bali is Buddhist and Hindu. This impacts the art and architecture and artwork on the islands. I was very glad to have visited Indonesia because I can use some of the distinct artistic elements in my own drawings and paintings.