I Nyoman Lesug was born in Kutuh, Ubud in 1933. He started painting since 1953 under Ida Bagus Rai’s tutorial. Besides a painter, he also served as a pemangku in the nearby temple. His works were meticulous and thorough, featuring various scenes of Balinese daily life, especially Ubud natural scenery.
Lesug frequently exhibited in Bali Art Festival at Taman BudayaDenpasar. His works were among the collections of Museum PuriLukisan (Ubud), Neka Museum (Ubud), and East West Center (Honolulu). He participated in the Art Of Bali exhibitions in the same center in Honolulu during August till October 1988, and was asked to demonstrate his painting skill. Lesug had several pupils, among the emerging ones were Mangku Sayang, I Made Jiwa and I MadeMadra.
Madra himself already creates several promising pupil. Using ‘Lesugism’, or known as ‘Kutuh’ style to his followers, the style is characterized by colossal figures in various fragments of Ngayah,mecaru ngaben and ogoh-ogoh parade. Ever since 1990, the Lesugismworks are dominated with pink in colors, slightly different than Lesug’sown paintings.
